Throughout this module I have further developed my writing I have particularly useful as I am retaking the year to use the library in a better way which I think I didn’t do well last year. I have learnt to use the online library resources to find the right book I am looking for and to also generally find the section of books that I am interested in thus making it so much easier to reference a book that is more relevant to my writing. This will prove useful in future when writing longer essays which need to be backed up with a varied range of references. Also making sure that the reference is of use. I also found the task in which I had to use Harvard referencing useful as I hadn’t used them in a while and need a refresh on how to do them. The task where you had to find, and designer and their reference showed me how much goes into a designer work and made me want to think more about the ideas I come up with and what they are informed by.
I found the task helpful on online resources because it helped me recognized what is something that is a reliable source to use from online because not everything online is reliable or useful. I particularly enjoyed the academic integrity task because it pushed me as understanding the language used by the author isn’t always the easiest of things, so it made me think about what I was writing more. Although I found getting quotes to relate to my points quite hard and I feel like there not the best to relate my points. I found getting to the word count on this task quite hard because I found it hard not to ramble and repeat myself. I found it easier to reach the word count on tasks such as the ethics because I felt more strongly about the issues involved I need to find the passion I have when writing this and try a transfer it to another task or relate their task to something I can more easily write about.
I also struggled with time management as I was concentrating on radical tasks I totally forgot about tasks some weeks and got quite behind at some points. in future I will manage my time better so tasks are easier to complete with time to look over them properly to improve them. Also by doing it as soon as it is set it gives me a few days to work on it and not rush it because I need to complete other work.
To conclude this course has encouraged me to utilize the library and its many features online and not to be afraid to ask the librarians for help. I found the lectures very helpful as they challenged me to do better research and to go further when looking at research. And to use this in my practical projects to get creative ideas.

I chose the extract from Malcolm Bernard’s book fashion as communication. The chapter about the etymology of fashion which focuses on the uses of fashion and the many vocabulary around it and looks at the definitions of third throughout history. He uses this to comment on the various uses of fashion in from what he believes it to be and the way this influences society. I particularly found the comments on the way fashion can inform the way we talk to others interesting.

Malcolm Bernard writes ‘which conceal, even as they communicate, the social position of the wearer. Fashion and clothing, that is, may be the most significant ways in which social relations between people are constructed, experienced and understood.’ Barnard (2002) I would have to agree in part that fashion is often a barrier or a reason for people either to talk to someone or not and then if they develop a relationship in any form. I often find that people especially in the fashion sector seem to group together as on a whole allot of people in the fashion sector would dress quite differently to others. I think we all make decisions on people and there personality’s maybe even their sexuality on their dress even on a subconscious level.

I found this quote backs up my point ‘marking out particular kinds of bodies, drawing distinction in terms of class and status, gender, age, sub-cultural affiliations that otherwise would not be so visible or significant’ Entwistle and Wilson (2001).This also brings up the point about affiliation as I think this is hinted at in Bernard’s earlier quote that by wearing sometimes we are showing which group we belong to or how we show support for a group of people. They also bring up for a fact that if we didn’t wear clothes this affiliation would only been known if we knew the person well or asked them about themselves. I believe this to be true as I often can tell what music people like or what hobbies there into according to the way they adorn their bodies. I feel this has come more apparent with cheaper fashion and people having more disposable income they are freer to dress in an expressive way and the way that they want too. My point is back up with this quote from adorned in dreams. ‘Economic expansion was the basis for a revolution in customs, beliefs and daily experience; henceforth fashion itself become one medium for the expression of the values of modernity. There was a move from display to identity.’ Wilson (2003) Also, the freedom to dress however you want I feel has a connection to how we act around others and how we see ourselves fitting into groups.

In conclusion I like Bernard’s thoughts on fashion although often portrays the way people use it in a negative tone I do believe people use it as a way of telling what each other are like. Asking a quick judgement according to what a person is adorned in is something we all do even if it is subconsciously. Also agree with he’s point about clothing being a barrier between groups according to social class and tastes. It is how allot of people establish who they are going to side with in new social situations. I have also found through my other quotes I found that I think it may even effect are opinion of ourselves and make us question how we act via what we are wearing at the time.

Entwistle, J. and Wilson, E. (2001). Body dressing. Oxford: Berg.
Barnard, Malcolm (2002) Fashion as Communication, London: Routledge.
Wilson, E. (2003). Adorned in dreams. London: I.B. Tauris, p.155.

I decided to look at the image by Duncan Quinn as it was more distasteful to me. To me the image is worse than the other because of the dynamic between the guy and the girl in the photo. As a men’s suit company, I first would like to point out that there is no reason to have a woman in underwear in the photo at all. This is one of the first things that makes the picture seem that the man has grotesque hold over the woman in the image. This is unnecessary because the man is fully clothed why isn’t she.

The second is the way the woman is modelling is like she isn’t modelling at all her, the lifeless look to her body almost seems like she is died or as in I think the advert is trying to represent she has no control over her body. I particularly find this disturbing because I have had friends and heard stories of woman getting drugged in clubs and bars and thus having no control over the situation their in. this is one of the first indicators that this ad is showing sexual assault or rape. A totally immoral way to advertise a suit.

As I looked up this ad I found that it was advertised in fashion magazines. This worries me even more because these companies have effectively viewed this and given it the okay which means many leaders of business think there is nothing wrong with this image and the backlash came only after it was published. In an age where children and teenagers can practically access anything or see anything they want to use laptops or even reading a magazine in a dental practice. This means that this image would have been viewed by ages which have not thoroughly been taught about these issues and think parents would find this very worrying.

Also, the way her neck is held by the tie makes it look like the woman is in pain bringing in an element of torture to the picture. Draped across a sports car I wouldn’t be sure this is what company would want to associate with there image. It is effectively saying if you wear this suit you’ll be able to do this to a woman which would never be true. I look at this book called advertising and societies it said ‘They found that females are more likely to be places in submissive positions; females are more often sexually displayed; and females are often the subjects of violent imagery.’ basically saying that this image is not alone in its depiction of woman. Which makes it even worse that more and more brands have found it okay to depict woman in this way and in effect promote rape and sexual assault culture.

In conclusion the use of the woman draped naked on the car is totally unnecessary and sends the wrong message to the public. It tries to make rape and sexual assault culture look cool and thus making men feel like they can do it especially if it is shown in popular fashion magazines which is totally outrages.

Frith, K. and Mueller, B. (2010). Advertising and societies. New York [etc.]: Peter Lang, p.97.

This image was made for the 125th issue of vogue I choose this image because of its uniqueness within the fashion industry and within magazines themselves. Vogue choose three people to create covers aside from some ordinary options such as the one by Annie Leibovitz, vogue choose painter John Currin for the job. In my head this reminds me of the original fashion magazines harking back to the late 17th and early 18th century which because of the lack of photography in the world would have been all drawn and painted. I love how at a time of celebrated such forward-thinking magazine such as vogue they glimpse back to there roots as a company. When looking up the artist influence I came across that he is often inspired by the renaissance era which I think you can see the links too in this picture because that era saw the progression in art to make things more realistic and often is thought to be a big turning point in art. I particularly like the mood of the painting Jennifer Lawrence the actress who is portrayed this painting seems to look innocent the colors used such as the pale pinks and the softness of her skin. But as well as this there is a strongness which I truly believe was provided from the accessories in which she is wearing and holding. The Miu Miu hat and bag portraying a sense of strength with the fur hat often associated with strong Russian characters and the bag with bold purples and green showing that she is not afraid make a statement and have colour in what she wears. In conclusion I think this is a very intelligent and interesting image by john currrin and a fantastic decision for vogue to have made and I can see how the many influence in this painting could influence a designer.

The complete collectors’ guide. (2005). [Place of publication not identified]: Thames & Hudson.

SNEAKER MUSEUM. (2017). ABOUT. [online] Available at: http://www.sneakermuseum.com/about/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

Hienze, L. (2017). Step into something eco-friendly: white sneakers that don’t cost the Earth. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/nov/07/step-into-something-eco-friendly-white-sneakers-that-dont-cost-the-earth [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017]

. I choose this book because I looked at in in my recent knitwear project but didn’t fully have a use for it, so I wanted to use it more thoroughly in something else. i wanted to use a section of the library which I haven’t used before and I found this in the accessories section which I can’t think I have used before. it is a very interesting book cataloging all the different types of trainers there have been from various brands including Nike and Adidas. there are some of trainers that will become useful when doing further research in future projects in my practical work because of their interesting and unique design. after this I wanted to find a website in which I would find out a bit more about the trainers because the book was mainly a catalogue I came across the sneaker museum which is a place where they have various sneakers on display although it is not in the UK the website provides various types of information to further my knowledge. If I was ever to go further into research of sneakers I would maybe contact them they seem a good source to go by when seeking knowledge on this type of shoe. I then looked at the eco side of trainers and found this interesting article on eco-friendly trainers which I found on the guardian website. as a generation which is caring more and more about the environment it was good to find a place where you can learn about how much your shoes can affect it.

Gershcel, S. (2008). Louis Vuitton. New York: Assouline, pp.20-21.

I first found this book on Louis Vuitton in the fashion designer area of the library. This book appealed to me because of its imagery, with Vuitton’s long history I’m sure it had a wide range of sources In which the book could find imagery from. I also wanted to find something in the library that I could easily link to something online and because of the global recognition of the logo it was easy to find for this. I don’t think there is many people in the word who haven’t ever heard the words “louis Vuitton” when I look for an object I want to find one which is unusual because as one of the most knocked of products in the world I wanted to find something in my head looks less tacky.

Jones, J. (2017). Jeff Koons’ Louis Vuitton bags: a joyous art history lesson. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2017/apr/12/jeff-koons-louis-vuitton-bags-fashion-fragonard-rubens-titian [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

When looking up louis Vuitton I wanted to find an object that embodied the change of the brand and the change of our society and the way we look at fashion. I found an image from what I thought was an amazing collection of bags from the collaboration with Jeff Koons. This in relations to the first image show how its brand has diversified by bringing in an artist and appealing to a wider audience not just the travel gear of the rich and luxurious and the famous knock offs but also being a fashion statement with more of a shock value. also, it tells you something of the brands power in the world to be able to get such famous piece and be able to incorporate them into a sellable product all deriving from the early bags as display in the image I found in the book.

National Air and Space Museum. (2017). Commercial Aviation. [online] Available at: https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/commercial-aviation [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

I struggled to find a website from museum or an archive that gave me much information on the brand itself except its websites or of company’s it sells for, so I decided to look at what the luggage was used for. I found that luggage was often more suited the the rich upper class untill bigger ships and airplanes made it more easier to travel luxury brands like louis Vuitton thrive on that taste of luxury and many people who can not usual afford such products buy such products to taste the feel of luxury on a holiday as such. As commercial travel got more affordable and frequent. As the museum I looked up says we have only been using flights commercially for under 100 years which when you think about it in history’s terms is astonishing compared to how much we use it now.

On reflection of each of these mini tasks this has helped me to use the library more efficiently by finding areas in the library which are particularly useful for me and also on how to use online services such as webcat to find the books I need. Also, when I look up things on the web from now on I will try I make sure they come from a reliable source such as an archive and museum.