Visual Awareness Portfolio

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Chapter 3 : Workbook

We were asked to create a workbook, documenting all of our findings, ideas and inspiration across the module.

!Here is a selection of 8 pages from mine. pg. 


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Colour


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brand


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Weight and Body Image The industries version of ‘plus size’ is a lot slimmer than what it is in real lifethey are calling a size 12-14 plus size, when realistically this is a healthy weight for women. Brazilian model Anna Carolina who worked for brands such as Giorgio Armani and Dior died aged 22 from anorexia and Anna Reston died of an eating disorder-she weighed only 88 pounds yet at a casting call she was called fat. The impact of this imaginary plus size is influencing all ages to believe they’re too big to be pretty or famous.

The representation of ethnic minorities within the industry is so poor, it is not a true representation of the society we live in today. It is creating stereotypical views with are then perceived by many consumers that this is 'ok'. When black models are rarely represented in the industry they are made to stick out like a sore thumb there are 'token' models in a catwalks show, a complete issue of Italian vogue [that’s enough to get media of their backs, they've 'done their bit'] or shows the Rick Owens where he has tried to embrace racial and body image but has produced a SS14 show portraying models of ethnic minority in animalistic ways. All these influences may trickle down into the everyday society. Thirteen out of 92 shows at the most recent New York fashion week featured no black models at all. These statistics show diversity in fashion to be sliding back rather than improving. Season after season a substantial number of design houses use little to no models of colour. No matter the intention, the result is racism.


Sexual Objectification

Women are often shown as an object through the fashion media, an example being this photo of Miley Cyrus taken by Terry Richardson. Once a child star, “Hannah Montana”, her fan base was millions of youngsters. Her new image leaves little to the imagination and is plastered all over the internet and magazines, making her young fan base believe it’s acceptable to objectify themselves. A woman so dominant in the current fashion industry should not be allowed to promote this. I showed 30 people these photos and asked their opinions of them. 57% of people said that they were “disappointed in Miley Cyrus” and this is because she once was a role model to a young audience. The rest said that this photo made them feel “self conscious”. When asked how the “Blurred Lines” video represents the women in it, people replied the women were represented “as an object”, “vulnerable”, “degraded” and “as sex objects”. 96% of people who answered my survey had seen a “photo in the media that shows women as a sexual object.” Which is completely unacceptable.

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Image Manipulation As a consumer, you exposed to 5,000 airbrushed images a week. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) monitor every advertisement published for the British public, although there are no defined laws as to what the magazines can post, but the images must be realistic. These enhanced images psychologically alter the way that influenced young people perceive their bodies to be. Eating disorders, extreme exercising and even depression can be linked as a correlation as factors between the enhanced images and problems. As most supermodels are a US size 0 or a UK size 4 – sizes which are not natural for most women- they would feel pressure to change to look the same. Negative thoughts about their body would rise and dissatisfaction for the way they look.


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Self Absorption

Lighthearted films such as Mean girls and in-depth books such as 'The Hundred Dresses' highlight issues of bullying and of being ostracised due to not wearing the right thing. Terms the media uses such as "must have" and "ultimate" imply that if you do not have this, you are not one of the fashion crowd. They influence the consumer into buying to ensure that they fit in with these high levels of social pressures that society sets. Whilst this social shaming is set out more in females, men are still affected. Children are widely affected by this too, having to have those 'kickers', or that 'Nike bag'. In schools in the US, designer clothing affords some Children "the opportunity to become popular and that protects you and gives you social power and leverage over others" according to a Study by Professor Dorothy Espelage, University of Illinois.

In 2010 Primark suffered attack following an SOS note found in the label of trousers allegedly written by victims of slave labour, and the collapse of the Rana Plaza which killed over 2.5 thousand workers. Many protested and threatened to boycott the store, however Primark reported no loss whatsoever in figures for the period following these incidents. The world of fast fashion that we live in encourages us to divorce ourselves from these tragedies, and turn a blind eye in order to keep up with the latest trends.

Conclusion

Each of these points proves that “Fashion does more damage than good�. Instead of encouraging diversity and individuality, Fashion promotes conformity and an unrealistic self-image.


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Chapter 6 : Photo brief The task

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- to produce an image that

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demonstrates your development in knowledge and skills over the module

! - To show this, I took many images of my model, as she slowly moved her head from looking up and smiling, reflecting the joy the objects of desire bring, to looking down despairingly, representing the falseness of the happiness these objects bring, and the pain behind the garment

The theme

! -‘Object of Desire’ ! My approach

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- My image, following on from the

Creating the Image

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lectures last week, and the subject of our debates, is exploring whether fashion does more harm than good

- I wanted the audience of my image to ask themselves the question, ’Do objects of desire really bring us happiness? Or is it just a facade of happiness, behind which lies many ethical problems?’

- This appeals on a personal level as our debate explored, issues such as shopping addiction, fuelled by popular films such as ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’

- This also reflects the fashion

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industry as a whole, as the arty fashion imagery created by magazines and brands do not reflect the suffering happening in the construction of the garments

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- I then used Photoshop to layer these photos over one another, from looking up to looking down

- To show that it was reflective of the fashion industry, I then photographed one of the walls in my models room, which is (luckily for me!) entirely covered in pages ripped from fashion magazines

- I then layered this over the finished image

- I am really happy with my photo, and I feel that it reflects the brief perfectly, exploring my development in knowledge following the Debate task, and my development in skills throughout the module.

- I really enjoyed this task, and it was a nice way to finish of the term.


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New York Hit List The 50 Places I Want to Visit I have already visited the city a few times in the past, and so have (sort of) got all of the standard touristy classics crossed off. So this time round I decided to do my research and plan the hidden treasures I want to visit, and discover the city like a real New Yorker.

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Butik - 605 Hudson Street

- an eclectic shop of stuff

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2. Moss - 146 Greene Street - minimal, super cool interior design store

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3. Woodbury Common Outlet Village - 498 Red apple court - sales, sales, sales

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4. Kate’s Paperie - 561 Broadway - stationary (my guilty pleasure)

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5. Siberia - 356 West 40th Street - (as the name suggests) the coolest club in the city

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6. Nom de Guerre - 640 Broadway, Lower Level - Marvin Scott Jarrett’s ‘shopping G-spot’

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7. Jayne Mayle’s Clothes Shop - 242 Elizabeth Street - The Shoes! The Dresses! The Coats!

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In God we Trust - 135 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn

- a treasure trove of trinkets

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9. Poppy - 281 Mott Street - the epitome of edgy fashion

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10. Domsey - 431 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg - thrift shop

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11. Pearl Paints -308 Canal Street - art supplies (its practically educational- ish)


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12. Takashimaya - 693 5th Avenue - they package your purchase in origami!

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13. Rockefeller Centre - 30 Rockefeller Plaza - room with a view

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14. The Metropolitan Museum - 1000 5th Avenue and 82nd Street - obviously I’m going for the art, and not just to see where the Met Ball is held….

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15. The Skyscraper Museum - 39 Battery Place - amazing architecture

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16. FIT - West 27th Street - where I’ll be for one semester next year (fingers crossed!)

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17. Brooklyn Museum - 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn - Exhibitions: Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe

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18. Gilded - 1220 5th Avenue -Explore New York's past, present, and future

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19. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - 11 West 53rd Street - at least some parts should be educational

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20. Katz’s Deli - 11 West 53rd Street - the location of Harry and Sally’s famous date (‘I’ll have what she’s having!’)

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21. Century 21 - 22 Cortlandt Street - who can say no to 75% off Versace and Prada?

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22. Strand Book Store - 828 Broadway - 19 MILES of books!

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23. 5th Ave. Apple Store - 767 5th Avenue - It’s a glass cube in the midst of skyscrapers!

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24. FAO Schwarz - 767 5th Avenue - 8 year old me would kill me if I didn’t!

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25. Bryant Park - 500 5th Avenue - theres something very alluring about playing chess in a park surrounded by mile high buildings

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26. Employees Only - 510 Hudson Street , Brooklyn - a 1920’s speakeasy

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27. INA - 21 Prince Street - discount designer womenswear

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28. Supreme - 272 Lafayette Street - the original skate and street wear store (and a wall of skateboards thats a work of art in itself)

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29. Flower District - West 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue - the nicest smelling street in NYC



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30. Comme des Garçons - 520 West 22nd Street - incredible concept fashion house

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31. Jeffrey - 449 West 14th Street - incredible footwear displays

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32. Diane von Frustenburg - 385 West 12th Street - a DvF wrap dress has been on my wish list for far too long

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33. Marc by Marc Jacobs - 403.5 Blecker Street - take advantage of the January sales

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34. Doughnut Plant - 379 Grand Street - when in rome….

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35. Tiffany & co. - 727 5th Avenue - remember : coffee and croissant

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36. Times Square - 42nd and Broadway - a lesson i learnt last time round, take sunglasses, the signs will blind you!

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37. Bergdorf Goodman’s - 754 5th Avenue - just imagine the amazing Christmas window displays!

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38. Lenox Lounge - 288 Lenox Avenue, Brooklyn - harlem jazz den

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39. Watts on Smith - 248 Smith Street - a mod’s paradise

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40. Junior’s - 386 Flatbush Avenue - apparently the world’s best cheesecake, definitely worth a tasting

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41. Ralph Lauren - 867 Madison Avenue - if Rachel Greene worked here, its definitely worth a visit (what do you mean she wasn't real??!?)

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42. Ursus Rare Books - 981 Madison Avenue - because a Kindle doesn't have quiet the same smell

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43. 72nd Street Subway - 72nd Street - a subway station recently restored to its exact opening conditions in 1904, with the same materials, definitely worth a visit

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44. Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts - 65th Street and Columbus Avenue - ballet is my passion, and I’m planning to catch some in my favourite city

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45. Barney’s - 1660 Madison Avenue - more shopping (I’m a fashion student, it’s practically work, right? let’s call it ‘research’)

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46. Bloomingdales - 1000 3rd Avenue - I want me a little brown bag

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47. Saks 5th Avenue - 611 5th Avenue


- to complete my list of high end New York department stores

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48. American Apparel - 704 Broadway, Greenwich Village - the coolest store, in the coolest part of the city

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49. Victoria’s Secret - 1328 Broadway, Midtown - my best friend has given me a shopping list, who can say no to some gorgeous lingerie?! and did you SEE the show last month?

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50. Space Ninety 8 - 98 North 6th Street, Brooklyn - it’s Urban Outfitters, with a masseuse and a cocktail bar? YES!


Race


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