Course Description

This class analyzes the historical significance of Western and non-Western fashion aesthetics on the development of the American "style". Emphasis is placed on researching and critically evaluating the contributions of ethnic and cultural groups, as well as well-known fashion designers representing those groups, on the aesthetics and meaning of style and fashion in the US throughout history. Significant exploration through research, reading, and debate seeks to critically evaluate and understand the interplay of fashion in social constructs, biases in racial profiling, social movements, and race relations.