INQ-110 | You Are What You Wear

Full Title: You Are What You Wear

Topic Description:

“The clothes make the man. First impressions are the most lasting. They are dressed to kill. Oh, this old thing? I just had it lying around.” But what do these phrases mean, and how can we understand a person’s identity based on their clothing choices? What does it mean when someone says “Oh, I just threw this on,” or if they are dressed up for a special event? In this class, we will look at various pieces of media to understand how someone’s ‘look’ can influence the way society/culture see them. We will consider what kinds of messages can be overtly, and covertly, made by the way someone presents themselves in public. In an age of constantly being ‘on,’ we will analyze the carefully curated personae of people across time and in various cultural spaces.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: February 2022