Blog Post 1 – Lecture Reflection

These two weeks, the Better live project was raged to different lectures. The most memorable lecture I had was ‘POWER’ topic. And I would like to reflect this as the first blog. POWER was the first lecture we had for better live. 

Firstly, the lecture begins with garments that show power, ‘what you wear shows who you are’. The clothes and accessories on a person’s body reflect its own identity. It has become a visual communication between each other. This makes me remembered when I walk on the street, if a stranger stands near to me I would automatically look at its’ outfit, sometimes, I felt not been polite to see someone from outside references, however, there is no doubt we give the first impression using our eyes. After understanding the power on fashion garments, and realize my own movement. They would influence my way of looking at any of outcome in the future, I realize that I can know clearly about my outcome is due to I’m into every single step, but audience who look at my works are different. The audience are not able to see the progress but the conclusion. They can’t see mood-board or long explanation about what this work is about. So what present to their eyes is different base on everyone’s imagination. I believe that’s also a reason why some artists choose to record their progress as their final presentation rather than just giving out an artwork. Look-back to my outcomes I have never showing my progress to my audience, in the future works I can try with using progress as final.

Secondly, the power of media. It was surprising how much advertising we received everyday and I begin to realize how important that media relate to our work. As a creative director, not only making the outcome but also how to let others see my outcome is important too. From my last project’s research, “The Medium is the Message” state by Marshall McLuhan.What society use to communicate became a reflection of the society itself. As human society going forward proved the importance and the needs of creativity in the media area. In the future works, I shall also consider how my work be shown to the audience, my target consumer or the platform I may choose.

At the begging, I do not understand how does power related to Creative Direction or in a big way, Fashion industry. However, after the lecture I realize this “power” is not the power we use to fight or punch someone. Is an invisible and intangible power behind an artist’s outcome.

A clear message that resonated within this lecture was that technology is a driving force that has the potential to transform the fashion industry. As a fashion journalism student, I am constantly looking for a new and emerging advancements in fashion. However, as Nick Almond explained within his lecture, the theory of Bounded Rationality by Gigerenzer suggests that our ideas surrounding the future are constrained within our given limits of reason. In other words, it is difficult to conceptualise the future of technology. Yet, everyday work is being done to re-imagine this industry, but what are the ethical implications to the boundless limits of technology?

Blockchain  

During the lecture I learnt about blockchain. In its simplest form, blockchain is the storage of data that cannot be deleted. In terms of fashion, it has the potential to strengthen relationships between brand and consumer. For example, blockchain can identify the supply chain behind a product, offering transparency for consumers. Not only this, but this closed system will begin to combat the counterfeit goods industry, as it will be easy for consumers to identify a missing link in the supply chain. 

Digital Garments 

New developments in the digital fashion industry are being made every day, such as digital garments, digital fashion shows and even digital influencers. The digital industry could imaginably help fashion become sustainable. Our generation is distrusting in claims of sustainability, and often refuse to buy from fast-fashion labels. However, with the use of blockchain, consumer trust could be rebuilt, and purchasing digital garments could act as a rebellion to the fast-fashion industry. 

Implications of Technology 

Reflecting on the theme of Social Responsibility in Better Lives, it is important to question the implications of future technologies, and the effect this will have on society. Today, the pace of digital media can feel overwhelming. With our social life on the digital sphere, our clothing may be next. Not only this, but our role models, too. 

Digital influencers are problematic in the sense that they have been curated by a group of people who believe to have conceptualised the ‘perfect’ human. Yet, they are not real. Brands that use digital influencers to promote their products are removing the opportunity for young creatives to kickstart their careers. And, with the influx of fashion technologies, what will this do for opportunities of employment? 

The lecture influenced my thinking about technology in society. It is vital to consider how a society ran by technology will impact the world, and what this world will look like. On one hand, it could further disconnect us from our sense of selves and reality, and ironically, identity is at fashion’s core. On the other hand, digital fashion may be a step towards a more sustainable future and could rebuild trust between brand and consumer.  

After two weeks of lecture study, I have benefited a lot from it. Among them, I think what impressed me the most is the first lecture from Julia crew speech. The topic theme is Power connected with sustainability, which surprised me because I never imagined that power has any connection with fashion. Julia suggested that it has been Fashion to convey power visually for many of years. Then she started with six aspects to talk about their link, that is Royalty, Military Power, Politics, Business, Media, and Music.

“The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”(Malcolm X, Human Rights Activist) This is a code Julia talks about media. I think this sentence really reflects the development of modern technology and the portability and speed of information communication. This reminds me that in the days of our parents, it often took a few weeks for them to communicate by writing letters, but now a simple message is posted on the Internet and even millions of people see it in seconds.

In the fashion field, the increase in information exposure does have a great advantage in spreading fashion. As Julia mentioned, people tend to learn to imitate their favorite influencer outfits on various social software. It must be mentioned that the Kardashian family has influenced many people specially in the fashion industry and they have a lot of fans. Regarding influence, this reminds me of the latest news. Because of the epidemic, the US government requires that everyone stay at home not to go out. Later, the people did not pay attention until Kardashian persuaded everyone on Instagram.

I have to admit that in this era of information explosion, various media have an indispensable role in the development of fashion. However, it also exist a bug: People love to share their different outfit everyday. However, it must be said that under the love of sharing their new clothes, fashion products will tend to be unsustainable, because people do not want to wear the same clothes. As Julia mentioned, young people are more willing to wear new clothes every time and present a “perfect” life online, which is actually not conducive to our mental health. In my opinion, as consumers, we should still learn to buy items that are suitable for ourselves, and we should not throw them away after one use.

This lecture really let me learn a lot, and let me understand the problems that I have not been found before. No one can deny that studying art is a profession that wastes money and materials. As far as I am concern, we are aware of this problem now, and we should work hard to fix it and improve it. I hope that all our works could be sustainable in the future, and the materials should be as sustainable as possible. I think the protection of the environment is the responsibility of all human beings, including ourselves. Isn’t that what we who study art and fashion should do?