Catalog Description

Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Study of clothing and its relationship to culture, society, and the individual. The psychological and sociological influences of dress, the physical aspects of appearance, and the influences of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and class on the development of personal identity are explored through the study of style in traditional cultures, popular culture and everyday life. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Compare and contrast the norms of body image in today's society with those in the past to include influences from social, political and economic issues.
  • CSLO #2: Create visual examples of how environment influences dress.
  • CSLO #3: Infer the future of cultures and dress as it relates to current technological, economic and social issues and events.

Effective Term

Fall 2017

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Through projects, oral and written exams, students will:
1. describe the classification of dress to include applications and advantages;
2. explain how dress is related to culture and society in terms of the Scale of Western and non-Western Cultures;
3. show how recorded types of dress explained the cultural meanings of dress for historical time periods;
4. Cite examples of different types of written interpretations of dress;
5. show examples of how the environment influences dress;
6. compare and contrast the norms of body image in today's society with those in the past;
7. identify ways that social issues, politics and economics influence culture and dress;
8. relate signs of how people are portrayed in art to cultural beliefs;
9. summarize the ways that culture influences people to conform to social norms when it comes to dress;
10. predict the future of culture and dress as it relates to current technological, economic and social issues and events.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Social Sciences
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D7 Interdisciplinary Soc/Behav
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

      Articulation Information

      • CSU Transferable

      Methods of Evaluation

      • Essay Examinations
        • Example: Performance Objective "give examples of different types of written interpretations of dress" (Essay Exam Questions). Students will be asked to identify examples of different types of dress that have been studied. Pass/Fail Grading.
      • Projects
        • Example: Performance Objective "predict the future of culture and dress as it relates to technology, economic and social issues and events" (Project). Research a fashion trend that is currently found in another country. Make a prediction of its acceptance here in the United States using examples of current technological, social and economic trends to support your prediction. Grading based on Rubric.

      Repeatable

      No

      Methods of Instruction

      • Lecture/Discussion
      • Distance Learning

      Lecture:

      1. The instructor will give a lecture/PowerPoint to explain the types on the Scale of World Cultures (Domestic, Political and Commercial) and their importance as they help to define culture and society in terms of dress. The instructor will then lead a brainstorming session where the students will develop a list of examples for each type of scale as they relate to certain areas such as economy, technology, ideology and dress. Online students will be given the assignment as a discussion board item. Each student will be asked to give examples of each type of scale as well as respond to their classmates.

      Distance Learning

      1. The instructor will give a lecture/PowerPoint on the norms of body image and how they change. The students will then be given an assignment to research a decade to determine its specific norms and the social, political and cultural aspects that helped to define them and share with the class. This assignment can be done online through the use of the discussion board.

      Typical Out of Class Assignments

      Reading Assignments

      1. Read the chapter on the Classification System of Dress and come to class with three questions that you have from the reading. 2. Read the chapter on Dress and the Arts and be prepared to give a summary of the three most important ideas mentioned in the chapter.

      Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

      1. Write a short paper addressing gender politics. If you are female, how does what you wear relate to your ideas about women's roles in society or what it means to be female? If you are male, how do you negotiate the conflicting messages that how one looks matters, yet men aren't supposed to be concerned with fashion? For both men and women, what does your personal experience with dress suggest about connections between fashion, gender, and race? 2. Write a paper explaining the characteristics and differences of domestic, political and commercial scales of culture and dress.

      Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

      1. Research the type of clothing that was worn in an ancient culture. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation describing the styles, fabrics, methods of construction, and types of adornment or decorations used. Did all the people wear the same styles? And, were there clothing restrictions according to occupation, wealth, or status? 2. Wearable Art - Pick two pieces of wearable clothing or clothing accessories (purse/bag, jewelry, etc.) and explore their artistic and cultural value. Also include: name of piece, history of this piece and its style and whether it is gender specific or gender neutral.

      Required Materials

      • The Visible Self
        • Author: Joanne B. Eicher
        • Publisher: Fairchild
        • Publication Date: 2015
        • Text Edition: 5th
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:
      • Dress and Society
        • Author: Beth Winfrey Freeburg
        • Publisher: Fairchild
        • Publication Date: 2009
        • Text Edition: 3rd
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:
      • The Meanings of Dress
        • Author: Mary Lynn Danhorst
        • Publisher: Fairchild
        • Publication Date: 2012
        • Text Edition: 4th
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:

      Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.