Power
Through the lecture, it really made me have a think of the power within the industry and how it has affected the people from varied fields in different positions. First of all, the lecture started with the power of fashion. Fashion is what I approach daily and maybe I am so used to it that I almost oversee the meaning that it brings and the language behind it. Clothing itself is a silent but very powerful visual mark of identity. It can visually represent our status, position, ethnicity and specialty. Thus, what we wear stand for who we are.
Moving on to the power of money. There are 75 billion human beings on Earth. Within the 75 billion people, the property of 64 people is equal to 3.5 billion people’s estate. A CEO simply needs 4 days to earn the same amount of money that a worker earns for his whole life. In the industry, the rich gets richer but those from the bottom of the production line are still in a poor condition. Apparently, the earning money is not being shared equally. I would say the companies should reconsider the pay of the workers. However, the politicians and manufacturers say to raise the wage of the workers will have great impact on the economic system of a country. Even though I still think there must be a way to solve the problem if those who have the power can try to put humility in the first place instead of profit.
The power of media is extremely influential to the society nowadays. Advertisements can be seen everywhere. On social media, there are not only advertisements but also influencers who make their audience want to purchase products they show in their posts. This situation results in the massive consumption of clothing. I suggest the influencers should use their influential power to disseminate better options of consuming.
Power does not only come from the head leaders of the industry. Customers can also make their voice through the product they purchase. Each product a customer buys will decide the trend. The companies listen to their customers so we should be more thoughtful when we buy things since that is the chance for us to use our power. Consumer boycott is another way for consumers to use their power. When there are any inappropriate conditions of a brand, the consumers can say no to it through a boycott in order to let the brand face the problem improve itself. Protests is a more extreme way to amply thoughts. Through protests, people push pressure on the government and the industry to oversee their moves. Throughout all, it all starts with personal act. One might seem small but never neglect the power of an individual. As a student of fashion photography, I should be aware of the meaning expressed through the images. Changing consumer’s buying behavior and their attitudes toward fashion consumerism will be key factors to consider about.