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Gender popular culture and stereotypes
Discuss the right to freedom of expression
Todays fashion trends and the economic factors
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Current fashion often provides its audience with surprises, when it comes to attracting consumers and making news in the fashion world. However, most believe that fashion should never cross the line of good taste. We have watched singers like Madonna and Lady Gaga “re-invent’ themselves each year by creating new outfits with outrageous fashion in art and advertising to sell their music. Now there are cases when the expression of these creations in retail promotions step over the line and offend some viewers, or cause controversy among the American people. The fine line between freedom of speech and the need for censorship depends on the ability of the fashion and art industries to meet the needs of both the consumer with interesting products, and suiting the local community with good taste. When she recently visited an upscale mall, June Channing witnessed the lingerie styled mannequins in a Victoria Secret window display, her initial impression was of an image of inappropriate obscenity (1.) and prostitution, rather than an image of beauty and tasteful fashion. Granted, the promotions and advertisements of this particular retail store are known for provocative and eye-catching global advertising campaigns, directing its appeal to both the women who wear it, and the boyfriends and husbands who also purchase these products for their wives and girlfriends. These mannequin models wore only bras and panties, fishnet stockings, garters, and black lace. She questioned why the management of her favorite mall allowed its tenants to distract from the otherwise “family friendly” environment. “Mall developer Westcor and Victoria Secret are working to change the images at the store.” The management’s Mr. Hunter said that customer “Re... ... middle of paper ... ...ia's Secret Opts to Tone down Images." 31 Oct. 2007. News Article on the Web. www.azcentral.com 3. Editors of Stylist. "Is Beyonce's "Heat" Ad Too Hot for TV?" Msnbc.com. MSNBC Interactive News (msnbc.com), 17 Nov. 2010. Web. 01 Mar. 2011. http://msnbc.newsvine.com/_question/2010/11/17/5482457-is-beyonces-heat-ad-too-hot-for-tv 4. Lawrence, D. H. Phoenix II; Uncollected, Unpublished, and Other Prose Works. 1st ed. New York: Viking, 1968. 529. Print. 5.. "20th Century Nudes in Art - The Art History Archive." The Lilith Gallery of Toronto. Http://www.lilithgallery.com. Web. 03 Mar. 2011. Http://www.lilithgallery.com/arthistory/modern/20th-Century-Nudes.html. 6. First Amendment, U.S. Constitution Jordan, Terry L. "Amendments to the Constitution." The U.S. Constitution: and Fascinating Facts about It. 7th ed. Naperville, IL: Oak Hill Pub., 2009. 45. Print.
“Frederick’s of Hollywood, brainchild of the inventor of the push-up bra and purveyor of “marry-a-millionaire” lingerie since 1947” (Blakemore, 2015). Frederick’s created the “sex sells” image for themselves especially marrying a millionaire. They cannot go back from this and just try to reinvent themselves to cater to the everyday women when the company was built from these products. Frederick’s of Hollywood’s catalogs have most of the women in bed in the most uncomfortable position in the most uncomfortable looking lingerie. Victoria’s Secret catalogs are on a beachy location or just on location, not just a set. “That is, demureness is sexy in a middle-class setting and directness is sexy in a working-class setting.” (Blakemore, 2015). The catalogs create the ambiance of where the girls are when they are wearing the lingerie, therefore, it makes us the people shopping from these catalogs feel like we need to be in that place or atmosphere to wear what they are
In the article, “The Fashion Industry: Free to Be an Individual” by Hanna Berry, Berry discusses how for decades women have been told to use certain products and that if they used those products they would be beautiful. Women over the years have believed this idea and would purchase items that promised to make them prettier, thinner, smarter and even more loved. However, in reality it was never what they wore on their bodies that helped them be any of those things; but what it did help with was to empower women to become fearless and bold by what they chose to wear on their bodies as a form of expression.
Story, J. (1987). Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press.
"The United States Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 09 Aug. 2010. .
Constitutional amendments from freedom of speech to flag burning.. 2nd ed. Detroit, Mich.: UXL, 2008. Print.
5. Murphy, G. (1996, October 16). Historical Documents: The Bill of Rights. Cleveland Free-Net. Retrieved April 23, 2004 from the World Wide Web: http://www.lcweb2.loc.gov/const/bor.html
Linder, Doug. "The Nineteenth Amendment." The Nineteenth Amendment. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, 2001. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/nineteentham.htm
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In “The man behind Abercrombie and Fitch.” An interview conducted by Benoit Denizet-Lewis displays a glimpse into the life of Mike Jeffries and his views of his company only hiring “good-looking” people and targeting “good-looking” people to wear his clothes. This has been done in order to force his audience to recognize that the issue of acceptance one’s peers and exclusion of a community mentioned by Mike Jeffries, is a result of cultural perceptions and individual self-image. Denizet-Lewis skillfully shows that while Jeffries remarks of not wanting the “not-so-popular” kids to shop in his stores, it poses a question to consumers asking what change in our attitudes will come or if there will be any change at all. Thus comes the issue of how consumers today have a shift in the reasoning behind why one buys clothing and the motivating factors that influence one to buy certain clothing. Denizet-Lewis also demonstrates the different messages that controversial advertisements and statements affect different groups of people and how what they project is really what people desire, though deemed by many people as unacceptable or inappropriate. The author also examines how in the news media, the image has become more important than the message and how images have taken precedent over actual issues and character. As a result of this, various communities have formed by the construct of selling to “beautiful people” and how popular appeal has become an extension of a person.
"Bill of Rights and Later Amendments." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
It’s no secret that some women believe fashion portrays who they are. Therefore follow every season’s new trend. This leads to spending money that they don’t have. Waller Lea, a journalist, suggest that “for some communities, purchasing knockoffs or generic products are frowned upon, forcing minorities to spend more money. Now businesses and companies are targeting minorities, causing more debt problems.” Addicted to retail or brainwashed? Opponents claim that fashion is simply a creative way to express themselves. There are others ways to express ourselves that are no based on our appearance. Through drawing, painting or through our thoughts and ideas. What happens when someone can’t afford expensive clothing or doesn’t have access to fashionable clothes? They are singled out and excluded from society for being different.
In modern society there is more and more digital editing without the knowledge of consumers. Currently there are various reasons for why women develop negative body image, low-self-esteem and eating disorders. According to Naomi Wolf in her novel “Beauty Myth”, one of the many reasons women obtain concerns with their bodies is due to the universal images of young female bodies presented through advertisements in fashion magazines. Advertisements in magazines are altering and shaping the desires of men and women. Magazines sell viewers images of beautiful, skinny, flawless confident young women. When people are constantly antagonized with the magazine industry’s ideal of “perfect beauty” the viewer’s then, subconsciously believe these images to be true and begin to form biases about what they themselves should look like and what other people must also look like. People who view magazines get mislead by advertisers because they are unaware that all the images displayed are digitally altered through Photoshop and airbrushing. Today’s magazines are formed completely on false ideals of flawless beauty and unattainable body images, to prevent women and men from falling victim to the magazine’s deceitful images we as a society need to become aware and educate ourselves.