Task 3/4

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

Bancroft, A., (2012) Fashion and Psychoanalysis, London: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd

While reading ‘Fashion and Psychoanalysis’ by Alison Bancroft I found a chapter titled ‘Queering Fashion, Dressing Transgression’ and chose to base this research project on this. The gender fluidity that seems so intertwined with the fashion industry interests me greatly as it encompasses how fashion is a means of individuals expressing themselves as well as society using it as a method of identifying groups- in this case males and females. Gender fluidity plays with these stereotypes and proves them to be incorrect.

The chapter starts by mentioning Leigh Bowery. It suggested that Bowery’s work was at times ‘vulgar, grotesque or obscene’ yet also manifested ‘a profound human commonality’, this is what caught my interest the most and led me to researching his work further. I found one of his designs in the online V&A archives- a striking corduroy jacket made in 1988 for Cornelius Brady, a character also known for his unconventional style. I then searched for more information on Bowery himself and came across a guardian article titled ‘Leigh Bowery, ideal husband’. I read this as an insight into his home life seemed appropriate to gain a fuller understanding of him. All other perspectives are of him as an artist and performer and usually in a positive light. However, this article describes a new side to Bowery- as abusive towards his wife through undermining her both on stage and at home psychologically. This is a contrast to the exuberant and charismatic character described in other sources.

V&A (2017) Jacket | Bowery, Leigh Available from:
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1176956/jacket-bowery-leigh/ [Accessed 19 October 2017]

Ellen, B. (2002) Leigh Bowery, ideal husband. The Guardian, 21 July.