Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:07
This course provides an introduction to the history and theory of fashion, one of the most dynamic, intriguing and influential artforms. From premodern tailoring to contemporary pret-a-porter, costume design and creative subcultures: the course surveys a wide range of ever-changing fashion trends, and asks what they tell us about identities, aesthetics, and popular culture.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
Fashion is one of the most ubiquitous and influential artforms. Through dress, individuals and societies articulate their identity and belonging. This course introduces students to key movements in fashion history, and reflects theoretically about the status of fashion within the arts: how was 'fashion' conceptualised in relation to categories such as 'style', usually reserved for the high arts; how did the craft of tailoring become an epitome of artistic creativity? How and why do fashion designers engage with fine art and act, for example, as exhibition makers? A key focus will lie on fashion and the construction of identities: from youth culture, over feminism, queer and non-binary ('unisex') identities, to the connection of dress and power. Fashion also is a global industry, marrying creativity with shrewd entrepreneurial thinking. The course also reflects on the media of the fashion world, from runway shows over fashion magazines, to social media influencers.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback, oral feedback on request. Continuous assessment, with feedback in week 12 of teaching. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Remember | To gain a foundational knowledge of key developments in the history of fashion, from the middle ages to the contemporary. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse in writing and orally the characteristics of dress and costume as an artform, as well as its different medial representations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the way fashion determines personal and group identities, and to reflect critically on the student’s own ‘self-fashioning’. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-word Reflective Report. Assessment week: week 7 of teaching; feedback in week 10. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse in writing and orally the characteristics of dress and costume as an artform, as well as its different medial representations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the way fashion determines personal and group identities, and to reflect critically on the student’s own ‘self-fashioning’. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-word Essay. Written feedback and oral feedback on request. Assessment week: week 10 of teaching; feedback in week 13. |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Remember | To gain a foundational knowledge of key developments in the history of fashion, from the middle ages to the contemporary. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse in writing and orally the characteristics of dress and costume as an artform, as well as its different medial representations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the way fashion determines personal and group identities, and to reflect critically on the student’s own ‘self-fashioning’. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
2,500-word Essay. Written feedback, oral feedback on request. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Remember | To gain a foundational knowledge of key developments in the history of fashion, from the middle ages to the contemporary. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse in writing and orally the characteristics of dress and costume as an artform, as well as its different medial representations. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the way fashion determines personal and group identities, and to reflect critically on the student’s own ‘self-fashioning’. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
