Fashion and False Hype - Essay Example

? Cover Letter What was the purpose of the essay? In your response, explore the deeper meaning of this question. The goal is not just to complete the assignment but instead to convey a message. What do you plan to accomplish with this essay? What do you hope the reader takes away from this argument? This is intended to illuminate the truth behind the fascination of fashion trends and fashion industry. During the research for this Rogerian essay, I came across with some critical aspects regarding the social inequality and individual’s social behaviour in which fashion plays a significant role. I aimed to deliver the grave negative factors which fashion industry implies on society. 2. What did you learn from completing this assignment? Did you experience a new understanding of the topic? Did you change your perspective after completing the research? I learnt about the ideals of modernity which is highly constructed on the bases of the principle of equality. In addition, I was exposed to the social role of fashion in our lives which have significantly negative impact on our society. Most importantly, I found the alternative ways to spend money rather on following fashion trends and wasting too much money on fashion wears. 3. What difficulties did you encounter during the research, writing, or editing phases of the assignment? There were few difficulties mainly in the understanding of the criticality which this argument contains. The biggest reason is my presuppositions about fashion and fashion industry which were well conforming to the developed stature of fashion. The deliverance of the argument in which fashion leads to self centric thinking in writing was a challenging task for me. 4. What did you enjoy about this assignment? The most interesting factor in this assignment was the involvement of both, supporting arguments and the critiques. The aspects which are the positive aspects of fashion are, on the other hand, have negative aspects which are more intense than the positive implications. 5. What made you decide to write about this particular topic? Is this a topic that you are discussing in another course? Is this a topic that concerns you in particular? As we all know that fashion is one of the most important parts of our lives. My interest in fashion leads me to explore about it and the research made me develop the argument against fashion and fashion industry. I am immensely concerned with fashion which made me chose this topic for this assignment. 6. Is there anything else you would like for me to know before reading your essay? It poses an intense critique regarding fashion in contemporary world and it largely deals with social and humanistic aspects which are associated with fashion and fashion industry. [Student’s Name] [Instructor’s Name] [Course Title] [Date] Fashion and False Hype Introduction and Claim Fashion has become one of the most necessary industries in the contemporary world of modern age. Numerous trends in fashion are being acquired by millions of individuals in concordance with their regions, religions and cultures. Almost every single individual in this world aims to appear good and attractive. This desire of millions is fulfilled with those trends of fashion which are produced by the global fashion industry. From a child to teenager and from a young adult to middle aged individual, every single individual spends large amounts on meeting the fashion trends in the contemporary times. As fashion has become an essential part of today’s life, there are numerous negative aspects which are associated with the fashion industry. It consumes a good amount of time and money to keep one’s self updated with the latest trends of fashion along with the unjust which is associated with the labours working in the fashion industry (Cross 155-161). Despite the fact that fashion has become an essential part of the contemporary life but the number of negative aspects involved in fashion propose that the importance of fashion is not an essential necessity rather an unimportant discipline to pursue. Background Today’s life of advancements in every discipline has designated fashion as the essential element. The upper and middle economic classes tend to follow contemporary fashion trends along with the lower class which are contained with the desire to follow the fashion trends. The hype that has been attained by the discipline of fashion in the contemporary times has congealed many humanistic aspects of life. Fashion is considered as a symbol of modernity but several operations underneath this symbol does not conform to those ideologies that differentiate modernism from the preceding systems of life (Lemire 57-62). It consumes money and time which is most important assets of contemporary life along with misconduct of animals to be utilized in fashion industry. Fashion has congealed the human behaviour and conduct in the society as the acquisition of fashion trend provides a feeling of superiority. Fashion trends has made its roots intrinsically strong in human life by which the self centeredness and egoistic behavioural conduct has immensely increased (Boden 290-292). All of these factors have proposed the directedness towards the false status which has been designated to the fashion in the contemporary times. Side A There is an old cliche that proposes the importance of first impression on other individuals by which the image for a person is supposedly developed. In order to put a good impression on any individual or any group, appearance plays the most important role. Fashion provides the assistance in appearing good to others which does not only play a significant role in making impressions but also boosts up the confidence and personality traits. It does consume time to follow trends in fashion but it does worth time because it helps to acquire a sufficient image in public opinion. Due to this reason, fashion cannot be considered as a waste of time (Boden 293-294) Moreover, the contemporary fashion industry has provided several employment opportunities for individuals who belong to the lower economic class. Many of unemployed labours have been hired for different jobs in the fashion industry which does not only provide a source of income for their families but also assists them to grow their stature in the society. It signifies the important role which fashion industry plays in the social and economic construction of society (Cumbler 255-257). Side B Fashion has become an essential part of contemporary life but it consumes a great amount of time and money. The acquisition of time which is involved in following the fashion trends is entirely based on self centric thinking on the basis of which the money is spent on ones physical appearance. Due to this reason, fashion is resulting in the maximization of self centeredness and the money is also spent on one’s own self. On the other hand, there are numerous individuals who starve everyday due to the shortage of money. The money which has been spent on fashion by few individuals becomes wasted in the context of starving poor individuals. The time in which one can think about that poor population also becomes wasted in following fashion trends (Boden 295-296). In addition to this, the labour in the fashion industry is treated in an exploiting manner. The wages which those labours get does not conform to their efforts and productivity in the fashion industry. The working time for those labours is significantly higher than any other industry but wages are significantly unjust with the timings of work which they are forced to do. This negative aspect illuminates the flaws which are present in the fashion industry that directs towards its fake hype as an essential character of modern life (Silver 3-7). Common Ground In both of the ideologies regarding fashion and fashion industry, there are two points which are common. The point which is agreed in both arguments is that fashion involves a great amount of time and money. In order to follow and keep updated with the latest trends of fashion, time and money are essentially required. On the other hand, the broadness of fashion industry in which significant amount of employment opportunities for labours and the unemployed lower class individuals is accepted. The money and time involved in fashion that leads to selfish conduct of behaviour in society is a significant derivative of both arguments. The materialistic emphasis of fashion industry along with its immense association with class division in society does not conform to the ideology of modernism instead it illuminates the influence of preceding social systems which are considered as unjust. Conclusion There are many points of views regarding the consideration of fashion as important or unimportant in contemporary life. However, it is an established fact that the fashion industry has become one of the most important business industries in the modern times but the negative associations of fashion is graver than its positive implications. It illuminates that fashion has become an essential part of contemporary life not because of its positivity but because of its falsely developed stature which is not only impacting the individuals behavioural conduct but also the social order of society. Work Cited Boden, Sharon. "Dedicated followers of fashion? The influence of popular culture on children’s social identities." Media, Culture & Society 28.2 (2006): 289-298. Print. Cross, Gary S. Time and Money: The Making of Consumer Culture. London: Routledge, 1993. Print. Cumbler, John T. "Slaves to Fashion: Poverty and Abuse in the New Sweatshops (review)." Journal of Social History 40.1 (2006): 255-257. Print. Lemire, Beverly. The Force of Fashion in Politics and Society: Global Perspectives from Early Modern to Contemporary Times. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing, 2010. Print. Silver, Beverly. "Slaves to fashion: Poverty and abuse in the new sweatshops." Ross, Robert J. S. Slaves to Fashion: Poverty and Abuse in the New Sweatshops. New York: Sage Publication, 2008. 4-8. Print. Annotated Bibliography Boden, Sharon. "Dedicated followers of fashion? The influence of popular culture on children’s social identities." Media, Culture & Society 28.2 (2006): 289-298. Print. This article has provided the impact of fashion in the development of social identities. This article is mainly concerned with children but it does present impact of fashion on social identities of indiviuals in the society. Cross, Gary S. Time and Money: The Making of Consumer Culture. London: Routledge, 1993. Print. This book presents the economic brilliance of fashion industry in contemporary times. It also describes the involvement of money from consumers and consumption of time which is required in order to acquire latest fashion trends. Cumbler, John T. "Slaves to Fashion: Poverty and Abuse in the New Sweatshops (review)." Journal of Social History 40.1 (2006): 255-257. Print. This article presents the problems which are associated with fashion industry regarding the misconduct with labours but it also addresses the the positive elements of fashion in which employment of poor class individuals is most significant. Lemire, Beverly. The Force of Fashion in Politics and Society: Global Perspectives from Early Modern to Contemporary Times. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing, 2010. Print. This book exhibits the a historic overview of the congealed fashion industry and also explicate the power of fashion industry in the contemporary times. It represents the dominenece of fashion in today’s life as an essential element. Silver, Beverly. "Slaves to fashion: Poverty and abuse in the new sweatshops." Ross, Robert J. S. Slaves to Fashion: Poverty and Abuse in the New Sweatshops. New York: Sage Publication, 2008. 4-8. Print. This section strictly deals with the labours in fashion industry and it proposes that those labours do not acquire just wages instead the workload is more intense which is creating significant problems in the social order and individuals economic status. Read More