BLOG POST 1 – LECTURE REFLECTION -Teleica Kirkland
The Rotation of Negative Representation in the fashion industry was something I was keen to understand. Teleica Kirkland gave a Better lives lecture on representation, which gave the open introduction to the chaos of what fashion has metamorphosed into. Possessed with the ideology that our aesthetics should be influenced by the European culture, society has clouded our minds on how much, our Representation plays a crucial part in our social lives.
connotations on representation everywhere. Possessed with the ideology that our aesthetics should be influenced by the European culture, society has clouded our minds on how much, our Representation plays a crucial part in our social lives.
The idea of Eurocentric values birthed colourism. In order to be attractive, you have to look a certain way to appease the target audience. These connotations stem from the entertainment industry, That have a range of celebrities which have embarked on new ways in promoting campaigns that focus on pills, dieting and doctors for “simple” surgeries to transform and indorse a new look to social media, broadcasting a fake reality.
These celebrities encourage others to change their appearance, by creating campaigns/ advertisement to provide avenues for a vision of moving forward with acceptance that everyone is not the same. Being able to see the representation of yourself somewhere breeds importance for that individual.
The influence of European culture has destroyed the minds of others to not remember/ feel ashamed over their black heritage. Designers of black heritage have not had the privilege, exposure or welcome from the fashion community, but can be made fun of from other humans that don’t understand the level of racism a person of colour goes through.
In this world, woman that are light-skinned, that have European hair (wavy/ bone straight hair) are the ideas of the ideal beauty. This promotes a negative connotation to others that don’t have the look. This forces the target audience to look at a new form of beauty standards. Bleaching (including skin bleaching), dieting and surgery are the main persuasions in gaining popularity from young target audiences, by using celebrities.
Negative representation has been problematic throughout history. The misrepresentation of black men, stereotypes, schools, Genders, disabilities, cultures have all been tormented, due to people being misunderstood, curious, angry or a bully over not understanding something that is not their norm. It all revolves around a systematic Failure, that people don’t want to fix.
However, over recent years, due to social media, which has published more controversy in order to keep fashion alive, has been the weapon to capitalism. Racially insensitive imagery+ stirring controversy = money+ profit= more insensitive racial imagery.
Instagram Account , Diet Prada made a PSA in 2020. Designer Comme Des Garcon made a critical error at PFW 2020 when deciding to bring a stigma to cultural identity, by using white males wearing cornrow wigs as a demonstration for cultural Appropriation, Racism. (2 years ago, was their first time casting black models for their shows)
Racism, sexism, size discrimination, disability discrimination are the acquisitions of fashion.
Rihanna counteracted that theory by providing strength in movement. Savage x Fenty 2019 show premiered the importance of inclusion for others, regardless of sexual orientation, size or colour. You should be able to see a version of yourself. It gives a sense of comfort to know that you have entered a space of a no judgement zone.