module specification

Covering a range of approaches, models and frameworks addressing fashion as an arena of academic concern, this module provides students embarking on the BA Fashion Marketing & Business Management programme with a thorough introduction to theoretical underpinnings of the discipline of sartorial culture. Specifically it aims to raise awareness and understandings regarding the various trajectories taken in ‘thinking through’ fashion and manner in which the fashion artifact, image and idea contribute to, or are implicated in (i) socio-political power relations, (ii) mass media representations, (iii) material cultural practices and (iv) development of aesthetic economies. As learners on this module, you will develop abilities in academic reading and writing, analytical thinking, problem-solving, visual/textual communication and self-directed research, mobilising these key, transferable skills in assignments predicated on demonstrating the achievement of constructively aligned learning outcomes. The assessment process features both individual and group-work tasks and involves an element of creativity. Overall, the module provides a motivational context for the co-creation of knowledge through your communication and collaboration with both peers and members of the teaching team. The learning experience on offer is aimed at complementing that provided in the other subject-specific modules and is designed to engage learners across the Level 4 cohort together with international Study Abroad students.

None
Available for Study Abroad? YES
 

The syllabus is divided into two discrete elements: Traditional Trajectories features the topics of identity poetics; fashion representation; feminism; embodiment; post-modernism; curatorial culture (LO1, LO2). Contemporary Concerns covers the topics of performativity; celebrity culture; semiotics; deconstruction; intersectionality; digital dress practices (LO3, LO4).

The scheduled teaching activity is delivered over a 12-week block, using a combination of workshops, lecture/seminars or other activities, totalling three hours of face-to-face contact time per week. Presentations are generally followed by seminar sessions that feature debates on topics negotiated with the cohort, or in-depth analysis of selected texts made available in advance. The method of delivery method may include the pedagogical tactic of ‘flip-learning’ in order to stimulate debate and provide variety. The majority of the learning journey involves independent learning, with students encouraged to engage with external resources relevant to their course/career ambitions, and to take advantage of learning opportunities that may arise through inter-action peers, or through participation in events organised by other members of the teaching team. An ‘enhancement week’ in the schedule provides opportunities to invite guest speakers to give master classes, or to discuss various job opportunities available in the industry. Employability is embedded throughout the module, with consideration given as to how the skills and knowledge acquired meet the sector’s expectations of graduate jobseekers.

A blended learning strategy is underpinned by the virtual environment created on WebLearn, which enables students to access lecture recordings, articles featuring added comprehension questions and other recommended texts. In addition, advance sight of upcoming presentations allows those students who require extra support to prepare for particular sessions. The site features coursework briefs, assessment guidelines, examples of good practice in assignments and links to internal sources of academic support. ‘Feed-forward’ commentary regarding the extent to which the module’s learning outcomes have been achieved in assessment tasks is available, with positive suggestions that would enable improvement in future performance. A reflective approach to learning is encouraged, with students advised to keep a record of their experiences in the form of a journal or personal development plan that may be particularly helpful when choosing optional modules or deciding on dissertation topics as they progress through the programme.
 

On completion of the module, students displaying full engagement will be able to:

LO1. demonstrate awareness of the manifestation(s) of fashion as artifact, image and idea

LO2. persuasively document the salient features of a selected ‘icon’ of fashion

LO3. identify creative outputs, practices and/or behaviours and explain how these exemplify theoretical explanations pertaining to the discipline

LO4. mobilise analytical skills to ‘decode’ promotional materials emanating from the fashion sector

Reading List link: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/AB710B18-768B-7D5D-A0FC-229D3E29062F.html

Core Text:
Barnard, M. (2020), Fashion Theory: A Reader, Oxford: Routledge

Additional Readings:
Blaszczyk, L. (ed.) (2008), Producing Fashion: Commerce, Culture and Consumers, Philadelphia: University of Philadelphia Press
Kawamura, Y. (2018), Fashion-ology: An introduction to Fashion Studies, London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts

Journals:
Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body and Culture, Oxford: Berg

Websites:
www.allwalks.org; www.fashion-era.com; www.londonfashionweek.com; www.vogue.com;

Reading List link: https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/AB710B18-768B-7D5D-A0FC-229D3E29062F.html