Update Jan. 22

Students took a reading quiz on the following question. What was Twain satirizing about Southern society in the Grangerford episode of Huckleberry Finn?

We discussed this question after the quiz, noting the ways Twain satirized the South's religious hypocrisy, obsession with gentlemanly honor, slave culture, and feuding culture (including the Civil War itself). We noted that the Grangerford's appearance of gentility was only a façade, like the Gilded Age itself. This hypocrisy was captured in the symbolism of Colonel Grangerford's white suit, also worn by Twain in a carefully manicured public persona.

Students were paired off to work on their new assignment:

Fashion Analysis

 

As Mark Twain has demonstrated by wearing his white suit, even the clothes we wear are an argument. Read the following excerpt from the “For the Strength of Youth” booklet and note what it says about how our dress and appearance communicate messages for good or for bad.

Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him. … When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and you can be a good influence on others.  Your dress and grooming influence the way you and others act.  … When you dress immodestly, you send a message that is contrary to your identity as a son or daughter of God. You also send the message that you are using your body to get attention and approval.

Your assignment is to conduct a fashion analysis. You are to select a photograph or collection of photographs that illustrate a specific wardrobe or fashion style. Then, you should analyze the rhetoric of the clothing. Consider the following questions as you conduct your analysis:

1.     What emotions do you associate with the clothing?

2.     What is the viewer likely to associate with the clothing? (What does the clothing remind the viewer of?)

3.     What group of people would the clothing we associated with?

4.     What colors are dominant and what emotional effect do the colors have?

5.     What shapes are dominant and what is the effect?

6.     What message is the clothing intended to communicate?

7.     What does the clothing say about masculinity or femininity?

8.     What does the clothing say about authority?

9.     What does the clothing say about beauty?

10.  What does the clothing say about the body?

11. What does the clothing say about age?

12. What does the clothing say about individuality?

13. What does the clothing say about unity?

14. What does the clothing say about what is important?

15. What role, if any, does brand name play in the clothing?

You will work with a partner on this assignment. With your partner, prepare to make an oral presentation of your fashion analysis during class next week. For your presentation, you must bring a BRIEF PowerPoint presentation with your selected images. Do not include text in your PowerPoint; rather, be prepared to orally share your analysis in a concise, organized manner. You need to prepare notecards with main talking points. Your presentation should be 3-5 minutes in length. It should focus on both WHAT the clothing communicates and HOW it communicates.

Obviously, it would be inappropriate to show images during class that are pornographic in any way. Please be careful in your image selection. You need to bring your PowerPoint to class Monday so that you can load it onto my computer.