Evaluating Fashion and its Impact on Individuals - Essay Example

Evaluating Fashion and its Impact on Individuals Discussion on ment by Andy Bennett Fashion as a term has been used for representing a popular style or practice mainly in the field of clothes, footwear, accessories, etc. It is a distinctive and varied trend in style as prevailing in the behaviours of individuals. Often the terms such as modernity, stylish are confused with the term fashion. Though, in reality there is wide gap between these terms. Fashion has been used a tool by an individual for proving himself high on the aspects related to modernity (Breward 1995, page 145). The statement that has been given by author “Andy Bennett” is highly relevant in the present scenario. Fashion has been used as the resource by individual for the purpose of construction of their identity and positioning themselves at a higher place in comparison to other. Fashion has an important role to play in articulation of ethnic identity in relation to the contemporary setting in routine life ethnic identity just like other types of social identity. It is not considered to be real and essential, but actually it is a multi faced phenomenon, which is different at varied places and time. An imperative factor, which is helpful in construction and articulation of ethic identities with the help of fashion, is cultural displacement (Bennett 2005,page 35). In relation to force, which is exerted for the purpose of relocation to different parts of world because of slavery, poverty, religious and political persecution, etc. have been very helpful in marking out a new space for cultural preference in terms of fashion. Along with this, the advent of globalisation has also been a key factor, which has influenced the lives of young people. There has been a debate over the change in fashion patterns because of globalisation. Late modernity, which is a period representing the disjunction between the communities and securities of modernity and the realities of post-second world war has been highly influence by the trends of fashion industry (Barnard 2002, page 159). At the time of 1970s, the research undertaken by Dick Hebdige made an examination as to how second generation members of immigrant communities in Britain pioneered a series of stylistic innovation to assert a new form of black identity in relation to urban environment. Dick considered an explained the transformation of how a successful and stylistic innovation from rude boy look, articulated towards new expression of blackness in Britain. Further he explained that Rasta look helped in injecting a much needed sense of ideological and cultural solidarity in the world (Bennett 2005, page 145). It is vital to highlight that fashion is used as a tool and a resource by the individuals who are belonging to late modernity. The individuals in the modernity period have been constructing their identities in their environment and society with the use of fashion. They are also using it as a tool for positioning themselves at a better position in relation to others. Fashion is tool and an asset for the society and has contributed in fostering the growth of the environment (Kaiser 2012, page 182). On the base of fashion, individuals have been able to construct their different identities and also position themselves. There is a significant contribution made by fashion as it acts like a key resource through which, individuals have been able to construct varied identities and also establish a position for themselves in relation to others (Craik 1994, page 4). As in the case of other products of consumer market, it has been clearly defined as to how in public domain fashion items cease to purely act as commodities and take on a range of everyday part and routine of life of individuals (Kaiser 2012, page 187). The term globalisation is defined as the intensification of the worldwide social relations, which is helpful in linking distant locations in such a way that local happenings and functioning patterns are influenced by living pattern of those people who are living wide apart and vice-versa. In all countries, the globalisation has made a strong impact on social, economic and cultural levels. The social changes that have been taking place in society have made a dynamic contribution on changing fashion patterns (Jones and Raisborough 2007, page 53). The globalisation and the changes that have been brought about in environment have made impact on the fashion trends of young people. In contemporary era, garment and fashion is the subject related sociological, historical, anthropological and semiotic analysis in the social theory. The basic purpose of fashion as explained by famous cliché is “You are what you wear” (Arvanitidou and Gasouka, p. 2). It has been considered that a dense and rich set of options related to costumes and reveal multiple ways in which, fashion has been an integral part of concrete, tangible, profound, complicated and symbolic process of development of modern and postmodern self of an individual. The development of gender identity is considered to be a social construct with two factors, i.e. garment and fashion (Craik 1994, page 21). Every fashion that comes in the society is considered as a part of social process of discrimination namely reproduction of the hierarchal positions and maintaining prestige in a deeply unequal society. People always interact with objects, which also includes garments as they are not only an object rather a human being with feelings and emotions. This is mainly because people want to show to others what they believe and consider and also highlight the role of clothes in building their identity (Negrin, 2008, page 72). The direct contact and the intimate relation, which clothes makes with the body of individual makes it clearly visible that it has an integral role in constructing social identity in general and gender in particular sense. The materials, which are selected to be worn by an individual and carried on the body are obviously involved in creating social contacts and also result in stable interaction between the body and the outside world (Hall 1992, page 99). Dress worn as a part of fashion is a material is representative of personal values and has close relationship with the self perception of the individual. The fashion pursued by an individual is a reflection of the self and has a specific role to play in development and construction of character of individual the body of an individual is a tangible asset and visible outer limit of the self but along with this it also has to operate collectively for building interaction between persons actions and external environment, i.e. society (Hall 1992, page 72). The phrase which is “is in fashion” explains the rapid changes that have been taking place in the styles and innovative clothing patterns (Arvanitidou and Gasouka, p. 12). “A (Dress should be tight enough to show you’re a women and loose enough to prove you’re a lady”) (Tumblr 2011, pg 1). The division between the items of clothing of both sees indicate the social construction in regards of gender identities that transcends both the sexes. In the past few years, there have been many rapid changes in the cultural values of people because of which the process of fashion and related changes has intensified. Fashion has a great influence on social structure through the formation of varied identity including gender. From the past trends and search in future, it is indicated that fashion is capable of generating great surprise and contribute in development of identities of individuals (Eicher and Sumberg 1995). (“Fashion (is) a key resource through which individuals in late modernity construct their identities and position themselves in relation to others”) (Bennett, 2005 pg 115). In context of fashion and gender there is wide difference in the patterns which contributes in different fashion elements for different sexes. The contribution made by fashion in development of identities of individuals is the main factor which is responsible for extra attention paid by people towards this factor. The liquidity in the fashion patterns play an essential role in transitivity of culture and the phases of this needs to be clearly captured and displayed. This helps in allowing the fluidity of gender identities and sexualities as well as for other identities also. The process of gender identity has also intensifies (Breward 1995, page 184). Clothing and fashion plays an unconscious and conscious perception in context of mortality, the ideology of designer and wearer and hence the major impact on culture itself. For example; (Source: Mendonca 2011 ) The image above explains the masculinity looks they do not at all represent feminine characteristics and contribute like a contemporary masculine looks. The fashion in the above picture clearly demonstrates role of fashion in building identities of different gender. The construction of identity made in the environment that restricts the availability of identity and available options of designation. For troubling the concept of gender identity it is necessary to find out ways in which people perceive and understand these identities in which social categories are construed. Dressing is considered as a tool for exploring the fashion in most direct and simplified way for filling constant gap between the female-male identities (Holden 2012, page 251). In the following example, pair of women and men is wearing same identical clothes which are representative of unisex style in fashion. This is also representing the way the male and female can be represented in similar kind of clothes and also the representation of the different fashion clothes. The agreement is also stated that each model is supporting their role, i.e. women emit femininity and men show masculinity. (Source: Senior wins $25,000 for fashion designs and business concept. 2011) The information that has been collected has been very helpful in above section has been very helpful in directing the paper towards critical evaluation section which will be helpful in deriving the final conclusion of the paper. The critical analysis will examine the all the points and highlight both the positive and negative aspects in relation to statement that is being analysed (Edwards, 2006, page 162) (Source: Caroline, 2013) The overall focus of discussion and examples has been very helpful in creating correlation between theoretical and practical aspects in relation to the topic cultural and historical studies as an academic discipline. Cultural studies is an academic discipline which includes critical theories and literary criticism and the subject is not unified rather it is interdisciplinary in nature and has got many folds to it (Pfohl 2006, page 3). The impact of fashion in the areas of building identity of individuals has been varying with focus on deeper representation, beauty ideals and feminism. (Source: Fashion Fix - Gender Bender Model Andrej Pejic Magazine Cover. 2011) Each fashion magazine portrays the identity of the models as either a beauty ideal or a representative of the brand along with his/ her personal traits of masculinity and femininity. Overall the complete awareness about cultural and historical studies given ion the module has been helpful in framing a broader base of the discussion. Critical Analysis The statement that has been given by Andy in relation to fashion has been able to attract the attention of many authors and they have poured in their thoughts in relation to the statement. The statement that has been given by Andy has highlighted that fashion has a curial role to play in building and developing of identities of individuals. The statement has indicated that fashion has a significant role to play in development of ethnic identity of individual. This statement has been supported by Barnard who has attributed the reason of change in fashion trends towards the globalisation that has been taking place all over the world. Globalisation has been helpful in creating sync between the fashion patterns around the world in a unified pattern (Barnard 2002, page 206). It can be analysed that the fashion trends prevailing in the environment make a dynamic impact on building varied identities of people. Though, this statement has high relevance but it is not cent percent true as some of the people of the society go against the fashion trends prevailing in the environment for constructing their different identity and standing apart from the crowd. These people have also been responsible for getting a change in the fashion patterns and contribute in developments of fad (Jones and Raisborough 2007, page 85). Thus, it is analysed that though at maximum instance there is a major role played by fashion in developing and constructing identities though at some place there is a need for someone to bring about a change in the fashion patterns and trends by flaunting something which is quite different from the existing fashion patterns (Barnard 2002, page 127). Garments worn by people and the fashionable trends prevailing is used by the people for creating different identities. These have been very helpful in fulfilment of social and cultural requirements and demands of the society. The statement that has been given by Andy has been critically evaluated by considering the viewpoints of varied authors and it indicates that it has high relevance. In the period of late modernity fashion trends prevailing have been used by people for constructing their identities and also creating a distinct position for themselves in relation to others. Conclusion The overall aim of the paper is to discuss the statement that has been given by Bennett. For this purpose, varied literatures and thoughts of different authors have been incorporated in the paper. The thoughts that have been highlighted in the paper have been very helpful in concluding that the statement is highly true and applicable. Statement is widely accepted and has been able to gain positive acceptance from other authors. It has been agreed that individuals have used fashion as a tool for construction of their identities among their common group for building differentiated image. Further, it has also been indicated that they are able to create a better position for themselves in relation to others with the use of fashion as their major strength. Though, it has also been highlighted that in some instance where fashion is not only used for constructing identities but the ratio of this population is very lesser in comparison to the ones who agree with the given statement. Some behavioural trends have also highlighted that some people go against fashion trends for creating newer fashion and fads in the society. After the analysis of discussion of varied viewpoints of authors and critical evaluation, it can be concluded that statement given by Andy has high relevance in the period of late modernity. References Arvanitidou, Z. and Gasouka, M. Fashion, Gender and Social Identity. [Online]. Available at: http://process.arts.ac.uk/sites/default/files/zoi-arvanitidou.pdf [Accessed on: 26 January 2012.]. Barnard, M. 2002. Fashion as Communication. London: Routledge. Bennett, A. 2005. Culture and Everyday Life. London: Sage. p. 115. Breward, C. 1995. The Culture of Fashion. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Caroline, D. 2013. Eight Magazine Covers That Challenge Gender Norms. [Online]. Available at: http://www.divinecaroline.com/37/117787-eight-magazine-covers-challenge-gender#0 [Accessed on: 27 January 2012.]. Craik, J. 1994. The Face of Fashion: Cultural Studies in Fashion. London: Routledge. Edwards, T. 2006. What are you looking at? Masculinity, performativity and fashion, in Cultures of Masculinity, London: Routledge. Eicher, J.E. and Sumberg, E. 1995. World Fashion, Ethnic and National Dress. Oxford: Berg. Fashion Fix - Gender Bender Model Andrej Pejic Magazine Cover. 2011. [Online]. Available at:http://www.oralfixpodcast.com/2011/10/fashion-fix-gender-bender-model-andrej.html [Accessed on: 27 January 2012.]. Hall, S. 1992. The Question of Cultural Identity. Cambridge: Polity. Holden, T.J.M. 2012. Hyper-gendered discourse: How Japanese fashion magazines construct Gender identity. [Online]. Available at: http://www.derechoacomunicar.amedi.org.mx/pdf/num4/15-holden.pdf [Accessed on: 26 January 2012.]. Jones, J.S. and Raisborough, J. 2007. Risks, Identities and the Everyday. London: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Kaiser, S.B. 2012. Gendering Fashion, Fashioning Gender: Beyond Binaries, in Fashion and Cultural Studies. Oxford: Berg. Mendonca, F. 2011. IT’S TIME FOR THE BOYS FROM IPANEMA. [Online]. Available at: http://jcreport.com/features/fashion-features/2011/06/23/it%E2%80%99s-time-for-the-boys-from-ipanema/ [Accessed on: 27 January 2012.]. Negrin, L. 2008. Feminism and Fashion, in Appearance and Identity: Fashioning the body in postmodernism. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Pfohl, S.J. 2006. Culture, Power And History: Studies in Critical Sociology. Lonodn: BRILL. Senior wins $25,000 for fashion designs and business concept. 2011. [Online]. Available at: http://www.linkmagazine.human.cornell.edu/2011/04/senior-wins-25000-for-fashion-designs-and-business-concept/ [Accessed on: 27 January 2012.]. Tumblr. 2011. [Online]. 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