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Washington University in St. Louis

MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture

Theses/Dissertations

Fashion

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Art and Design

Proceed With Caution: Fashion And The Case For Media Literacy, Stephanie Silva May 2023

Proceed With Caution: Fashion And The Case For Media Literacy, Stephanie Silva

MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture

This essay shows how one can further one’s media literacy by examining episodes of fashion as a cultural phenomenon and not an insular art practice. These episodes include Martin Margiela’s tabi boot and cultural appreciation; a Björk album cover and its potential yellowface; and the Rick Owens Spring 2014 show and the question of who gets to profit from representation in high fashion. This essay also confronts the role the Internet plays in educating the masses about fashion, both as a tool and as a distraction, and questions how a platform like Diet Prada affects fashion culture. Finally, this essay …


Superficial: An Exploration Of Decoration, Fashion, Taste, Camp, And Trends, Jillian Ohl May 2022

Superficial: An Exploration Of Decoration, Fashion, Taste, Camp, And Trends, Jillian Ohl

MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture

Since the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century, Americans have had a complicated relationship with decorative objects, the idea of taste, and the cycle of trends within our classist society. This essay examines some of the decorative objects in my childhood home such as patterned wallpaper and an antique chair as well as a contemporary brand name mascara. While these objects do not have major functional properties, their decoration and superficiality bring me joy. To better understand my appreciation of decoration and aesthetics, I assess how an object or fashion is considered in good or bad taste. …