Friday, May 29, 2009

Heaven...

I found this film very interesting!  The actual filming and cinematography was fantastic.  But beyond that the ideas and themes of the film were touching, interesting and taught me a lot about the culture in German interpersonal relationships.  I also decided to browse some of my classmates blogs to see their thoughts and found some amazing insights and wanted everyone to be able to see it as well.  (Great job girls!) 

Kelsi :  I was immensely touched by what the film had to profess about parent/child relationships, their variant levels and variability, their strength, and the natural love rooted in them which finds a way to communicate itself through other interpersonal relationships.

I found this incredibly interesting.  Coming from an extremely close knit family myself i found this idea fascinating and very comforting.  I was a bit nervous about attending Germany because I have heard they are very impersonal people, through this class and especially this quote, I find that I am continually becoming more and more excited to go!

Molly SlusherWhether it is between the German and Turkish, what is socially expected and deviance from societal norms or father and child, the division between two opposite ideologies creates a social tension that permeates the film.
 
This was also a very interesting take on the film.  I very much agreed with what Molly saw in the film.  It promotes ideas that we do not often notice, or look beyond, in German culture.

Research Question(s)

What impact do fashion icons have on the over-all culture of fashion in Germany?  Who are these people and why are they icons.  What is considered to be "German" fashion (such as a Chanel suit is considered French fashion etc). Does that fashion (like French or Japanese) relate to a German sense of self or identity?  What makes a label or brand iconic?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Research on fashion Icons, Now and then in Germany





"ANITA Pallenberg is everywhere. Open any magazine and there she is, looking out at you through that dirty blonde fringe, the tease with the fox-fur jacket (Dolce and Gabbana) and floppy hat pulled down over kohl-rimmed eyes (Marni). This winter the look that's emerged as the frontrunner is straight out of the German actress, model and Rolling Stone muse's late Sixties wardrobe: skinny cords, tasselled hipster belts, chunky fur jackets. She was the inspiration for Bella Freud's last winter collection, "And now I use her as a reference point all the time," says Freud."

and a well known German model currently

Heidi Klum was born in Bergisch Gladbach, a small city near Cologne, Germany, in 1973. Her career as a top fashion model and swimsuit star began almost by accident when, on a lark, she submitted photos to a model competition hosted by Petra, a young woman's magazine. Klum won the competition, and signed with Metropolitan, the German modeling agency. After modeling in Europe for a few years to great success, she went to the United States to pursue modeling there, and met with more success, culminating in her relationship with Victoria's Secret. This brought her to the pinnacle of modeling and, in 1998, the coveted cover of Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue, cementing her status as one of the world's top models. Along with that came lucrative marketing opportunities, including her own signature lines of sandals, jewelry, and perfume.














Possible Questions For Project

- How has the falling of the wall changed fashion on both sides?
- Were there distinct differences in fashion when the wall separated the city?
- What are some differences in the American fashion culture and attitude in comparison to Berlin/Germany/Europe?
- What are the fundamental differences between American designers and retail stores compared to in Germany?
- What impact do fashion icons have on the over-all culture of fashion in Germany?  Who are these people and why are they icons.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

"The most successful designers translated aspects of Germany’s town-and-country aesthetic into contemporary collections that had a salable appeal. Scherer González did luxe dressage with sheared mink capelets, herringbone jodhpurs, riding coats and extravagant evening showstoppers that, this season, had a tasteful appeal."

 Raved the New York Times about the Fashion Week in Berlin that occurred only a few month ago.  It also discussed the change in Berlin into a more "Project Runway" of the city.  The people who often attended the show and were captivated by the art of clothing that the incredible designers displayed but rather were caught up in the hype of the fashion world.  This is something very typical of American fashion shows and the American fashion culture as well.  This is another example of not only the international aspect of fashion as whole but the Germany shift to an American style atmosphere

As I continued to search about information about the Berlin Fashion scene I also found a conflicting viewpoint.  An article from the spirit of Berlin talks about Berlin being one of the most innovative catwalks in the world.  They provided clips from Fashion shows that showcased these abstract ideas and unconventional catwalk show.  The use tactic with a lot of accessories such as umbrellas and blowing the audience kisses which is commonly frowned upon in the high fashion world of rail thin angry looking models on the US.

Overall Berlin seems to be the center of not only discussion on fashion but a place that will be rapidly changing and is always active in the fashion culture.