Focus on: 20th-century fashion
Course Code: VB856
Duration: 1 session
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What is the course about?
This short course charts twentieth-century European fashion through an examination of the work of key designers including Chanel & Dior. We will explore the relationship between fashion and events such as war, and social and economic change and we will study garments as examples of material culture that maintain a systematic relationship with the societies that wore them, considering clothes as signs that make various statements about identity.
What will we cover?
• The changing shape and structure of fashion, considering materials, developing skills and techniques, and the artistic influence of such key designers as Poiret and Westwood
• The impact of social change on fashion, considering politics, class, gender roles and identity.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Describe the visual changes in men’s and women’s fashion during the twentieth century
• Identify the influence of key designers on twentieth-century fashion
• Assess the relationship between fashion, historic events, and changing social roles and experiences in the twentieth century.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with slide presentations and group discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in:
• VB851 - Focus on: 19th-century fashion
• VB627 - Decoding dress: National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery
• VB628 - Decoding dress: clothing and culture at the V&A.
Dr Rachel Sanders received her MA and PhD in History of Art from University College, London. She has taught at a number of institutions and currently lectures on the history of art and design at City Lit and Oxford Brookes University. Her research interest is early twentieth-century American political paintings and cartoons. She has published a number of articles on her research specialism and is currently writing a book on New Masses magazine.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.