The dominant "fashionable body" of the 21st century can be clearly identified as tall, thin, youn... more The dominant "fashionable body" of the 21st century can be clearly identified as tall, thin, young, white and able-bodied. This on-going practice-based research explores whether the promotion of more diverse representations of the "fashionable body" is possible via fashion illustration. The author’s original fashion illustration work is subject to time-lapse animation to create a short fashion film that aims to provide a vehicle for challenging the notion that, in order for an image (still or moving) to be considered "fashionable," the body depicted should be tall, thin, young, white and able-bodied. The original illustrations created for the film are subsequently passed to film-maker Zoe Hitchen to create a second fashion film that moves beyond simple time-lapse animation. The dissemination of this research has the potential to impact positively on the quality of life of a large number of women and girls (and possibly men and boys) as it challenges the view that only one narrowly-defined body-type can be considered fashionable – or indeed socially acceptable. This elitist view has led to unprecedented levels of anxiety and embarrassment, particularly among women and girls, if the body they occupy does not measure up to the (often artificial – therefore unachievable) "ideal" fashionable body paraded endlessly in the media. Further, as recent research has suggested that customers respond more positively to models who resemble themselves, the research also has the potential for significant positive economic impact.
The dominant "fashionable body" of the 21st century can be clearly identified as tall, thin, youn... more The dominant "fashionable body" of the 21st century can be clearly identified as tall, thin, young, white and able-bodied. This on-going practice-based research explores whether the promotion of more diverse representations of the "fashionable body" is possible via fashion illustration. The author’s original fashion illustration work is subject to time-lapse animation to create a short fashion film that aims to provide a vehicle for challenging the notion that, in order for an image (still or moving) to be considered "fashionable," the body depicted should be tall, thin, young, white and able-bodied. The original illustrations created for the film are subsequently passed to film-maker Zoe Hitchen to create a second fashion film that moves beyond simple time-lapse animation. The dissemination of this research has the potential to impact positively on the quality of life of a large number of women and girls (and possibly men and boys) as it challenges the view that only one narrowly-defined body-type can be considered fashionable – or indeed socially acceptable. This elitist view has led to unprecedented levels of anxiety and embarrassment, particularly among women and girls, if the body they occupy does not measure up to the (often artificial – therefore unachievable) "ideal" fashionable body paraded endlessly in the media. Further, as recent research has suggested that customers respond more positively to models who resemble themselves, the research also has the potential for significant positive economic impact.
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Papers by Carol Ryder