Fashion and Art

in the 20th Century

Syllabus

 

Massachusetts College

of Art and Design

 

 Spring 2016

 

Kathleen McDermott

 

This course introduces students to the creative proximity of Fashion and Art--twin goddesses of the Western esthetic through history. We’ll explore a century and a half of Fashion in context and relationship to all Arts, including fine and decorative arts, architecture, theatre and costume design, and graphic and product design. Through slide presentations, active discussion, and six MFA gallery tours, students learn to identify Fashion as Art.

 

 

Class Schedule

 

One half of class time each week will be a slide presentation with discussion.

 

The second half of class time each week will be experiential:  museum trips, homework presentations by students, movies.

 

1/20:  Slide Overview and Introduction to course

 

• To MFA:  “Fashion Illustrations by Kenneth Paul Block”

 

1/27: 1870-1890:  Victorian Impressionism and Tight-Lacing

 

• To MassArt Library

• Due:  Your Fashion Autobiography (no grade; just for fun!) Post on Moodle

 

2/3: 1890s:  Art Nouveau Curves

 

• To MFA for late 19th century objects and images

 

2/10:  1910s:  Paul Poiret and the “Total Work of Art”

 

• Due:  In-class presentation of Art Nouveau jewelry design.  Post on Moodle

 

2/17:  1920s, Part I:  Cubist Geometries in Art and Fashion

 

• To MFA to view early 20th century objects and images

 

2/24:    1920s, Part II:  Abstraction and Dress Freedom

 

3/2:  1930s and Art Deco’s Worldwide Appeal

 

• Due:  In–class presentations of costume designs for The Great Gatsby: 1920s day, evening, and sportswear.

 

3/9:  SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS

 

3/16: Surrealism, World War, and Rise of American Sportswear (1940s)

 

• To MFA to view 1930s objects and images

 

 3/23:  The New Look and Abstract Expressionism, 1950s, Part I

 

3/30: 1950s, Part II:  America’s ‘Fashion-industrial Complex’

 

• To MFA to look at mid-20th century objects.

 

4/6: 1960s, Part I:  Youthquake and Space Fashion

 

• Due:  In–class presentations on 20th century fashion designers/Zeitgeist.

 

4/13: 1960s, Part II:  Aquarian Self-Expression in Fashion and Art

 

• Due:  In–class presentations on 20th century fashion designers/Zeitgeist

 

4/20:   1970s:  Post-Modernism and the Rise of Fashion Subcultures

 

4/27:   1980s to now:  Fashion’s Culture of Celebrity and FashionArt

 

• Due:  In-class presentations on post-1970s fashion subcultures

 

5/4:   Final Class/Visual Review

 

• Due:  In-class presentations on post-1970s fashion subcultures

 

To MFA to view Contemporary Art Wing

 

 

Books, Grades, Late Work, Attendance, Moodle

 

Required Texts.

 

You need these for your four homework assignments!

 

20th Century Fashion. Mendes and de la Haye.  London: Thames and Hudson, 1999.  Best single volume on 20th century fashion. Less than $10 on Amazon.

 

Survey of Historic Costume, ANY Edition (latest is the 6th edition).  Tortora and Eubank. New York:  Fairchild Books. Comprehensive work for homework assignments—great for garment details and silhouettes.  ($16 for 4th edition on Amazon)

 

Two recommended texts for your four homework assignments:

 

Style For All:  Why Fashion Invented by Kings, Now Belongs to All of Us.  Kathleen McDermott.  (Lulu Press, 2010).  Illustrated handbook of 500 years of fashion. $30 in class; $46 online.

Fashion, From Victoria to the New Millennium.  Daniel D. Hill.  Boston:  Pearson, 2011. Another comprehensive work for homework assignments—great for garment details and silhouettes; focused on 20th century.  ($40 used on Amazon)

 Lulu.

Grades.

 

Your final letter grade will be based on four visual reports, class participation, and attendance.

 

No Late Projects. 

All projects must be turned in on their due date at whatever stage they might be.  I do not accept late work.  If nothing at all is handed in on the due date, the grade will be a zero/F on the assignment.  You can turn in your completed assignment at the end of the semester; it will be reviewed and positively impact your final course grade.

 

Attendance.

 

• If you are late to class, it is your responsibility to ensure that I check your name off the attendance register.

 

• Students who repeatedly miss classes are subject to quizzes on missed information.

 

N.B.:  According to MassArt policy, you cannot miss more than two classes and still receive credit for the course.

 

Moodle.

 

Three homeworks are posted on Moodle; final presentation is on your own computer.

 

• Details on class assignments are posted on Moodle.

• Class assignments are uploaded to Moodle for class learning and participation.