Here is my major work for last semester - a response to a brief called Shifting Perspectives which required a little bit of activism really - art as a vehicle for persuading the audience to think differently or just creating a new awareness in your audience. My particular work , which I titled "Let Them Eat Cake" was inspired by by a comment from Chanel fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld that went something like.... "This is how to spend your money, but spend it in style. There has never been so much money around here as there is at the moment" as he sent models down the catwalk in outfits decorated with real diamonds ("This is the time of day when you can tell the real from the fake, no?") which had me wondering at the insensitivity of a comment like that when half of Europe is beleaguered in debt crisis. And thats to say nothing of the millions in the developing world just struggling for subsistence. It put me immediately in mind of Marie Antoinette's infamously insensitive line "Let Them Eat Cake" which set me off on this path of taking a fashion magazine focused on luxury and then satirising both it's text and imagery. Fashion shoots set in a Darfur refugee camp featuring military chic for example. $48,000 Dior bags juxtaposed with sweatshop districts. You get the idea...
I've long struggled with my love of fashion from a creative point of view and it's role in allowing people to think it's okay to spend $28,000 (even $1000 really but where do you draw the line?) on a handbag when there is so much genuine need in the world so this felt very cathartic.
Probably the funniest part of all this work was when I presented it to a panel of art/design industry professionals. I was told later at the exhibition opening by one of the panel that as they were discussing my work and deciding my grade one of the others had said "But did you see she was wearing Prada glasses?" Oh the hypocrisy!!! Like I say, my conflicted heart...
A couple of nights before I was ready to present I was all photoshopped out and desperate to use my hands making something so I used one of the cover posters to make a basic zine which I then stitched bits of satirised text and imagery, also from the magazine, into and slipped in between the pages of the main magazine as one of those annoying extras that fall out of a magazine when you open it up . It ended up being my favourite part of the work.
A couple of nights before I was ready to present I was all photoshopped out and desperate to use my hands making something so I used one of the cover posters to make a basic zine which I then stitched bits of satirised text and imagery, also from the magazine, into and slipped in between the pages of the main magazine as one of those annoying extras that fall out of a magazine when you open it up . It ended up being my favourite part of the work.
Comments
I've always thought Karl was an intelligent man... was he subtly parodying these uber-rich himself by saying they should wear their ostentatious wealth ? Maybe not ... I guess he can't afford to put off his bread and butter clientele!
Anyway, love love love it! You are such an uber-star yourself babe :) And yes, really love the zine idea too. Kx
Great work Jo and best of luck for the grade! Let us know how you go. Maria x
p.s. let me say again, it's so great to have you back in blogland!! :D Love coming by your blog.
I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon.
Please check out my web site too and tell me your opinion.
my website - sakarya hendek satilik daireler
[/url] occasions . By likelihood I identified [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]polo ralph lauren outlet[/url] it and have in no way overpaid for his apparel all over again . 猫聛陆 Prices associated with alligator storage compartments can be huge because of their durability, [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]polo ralph lauren outlet online
[/url] superior, as well as long-lasting aspect, along with their general rarity . [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]ralph lauren outlet online[/url] 4 . Ralph Lauren Polo, Ralph Lauren Polo, Ralph Lauren [url=http://www.ralphlaurenoutletonlinee.co.uk]ralph lauren outlet[/url] Outlet . During the past, men忙聤炉 hoodies were stereotyped as alone getting beat by adventurous types on how [url=http://www.ppoloralphlauren.co.uk]discount ralph lauren polo shirts[/url] to or abiding from a run, about or some added blazon of exercise, or alternatively by anyone either accomplishing or advertent bent activity . Most likely I will launch ranting and additionally badly behaved simillar to the group? However i only loathe is a superb going through that.[/p]