T-shirt
...sty” (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3). When I was younger, I always looked for what was in style and what my friends were wearing. When it was time to by a new swimming suit for a trip that I was going on, I wanted the most fashionable bathing suit there was. I felt that the swimming suit that I purchased set me apart from the other girls my age because it was bright red and strapless. I felt that it communicated to others that I was old enough to wear a swimming suit that was “revealing”. Components of Culture The component of culture that describes why I wore my red, one piece, and strapless bathing suit is technology. Because of technology, I was allowed to remove the straps that were “unheard of” for a girl my age. Mechanisms of Organization Several mechanisms are involved in my decision for purchasing and wearing my bathing suit. One in particular is communication (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3) because it communicated to others that I was “ahead of my time” or very trendy. It also reflects a secondary mechanism of arts and aesthetics because it “facilitated human creative expression” (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 4). Interactions The component of technology is necessary for my bathing suit because I was allowed to remove the straps, which communicated to others that I was mature and fashionable. Ideal Jeans Historical Context In 1850, the California gold rush was in full swing. One popular item of clothing that can trace its roots to the Gold Rush is blue jeans (Esquire, June 2001, 77). It was Levi Strauss who created pants into canvas and later substituted a twilled cotton cloth. Blue jeans grew out of necessity but they were now representing the ideals of America. They are seen all across the world, but it is perhaps the “ultimate American icon” (People, November 2002, 143). Social/Cultural Context Every girl in the world spends hours shopping for the perfect pair of jeans. “Clothing usage is an expression of personality, of self” (Cornwell, 1990, 375) and communicates to others yourself. Finding jeans as always been difficult for me because I am so tall (5’10” to be exact). I have observed in a lot of articles and magazines throughout the years that women need a guide in buying the jeans that complement their body types. It has always been a lengthy process for me (and I’m sure for others as well). Components of Culture Technology (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3) is probably the primary component as to why I purchase the “perfect pair” of jeans. Jeans are an example of material culture since it is produced by humans and is continuously updated with different fabrics. Mechanisms of Organization There are a couple of mechanisms that explain why I love jeans and purchase so many of them. One mechanism that comes to mind is socialization (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3) because everyone in our society wears or owns a pair of jeans. Jeans evolved along side the American people and paralleled the transformation from a conservative time to a liberal time (People, November 2002, 143). Another mechanism that explains my reasoning for buying jeans is arts and aesthetics (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 4). Jeans have recently turned into works of art. People are decorating their jeans in a variety of ways such as painting on them, creating holes or tears. Lastly, it is a way to communicate (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3) and express one’s own individuality. Interactions The component of technology is extremely important and necessary for there to be jeans because it is constantly updating and creating new designs for jeans, which relates to arts and aesthetics. Louis Vuitton Handbag Historical Context The ways in which people have carried themselves and their belongings throughout history have reflected the eras in which they lived (Macleans, April 2002, 12). The term “handbag” first came into use in the early 1900’s. These were an inspiration for new bags that became popularized for women, including complicated fasteners, internal compartments, and locks (Macleans, April 2002, 13). During the 1920’s, there was a revolution in fashion with varying hemlines and lighter clothing. Bags no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly. The 1950’s saw the rise of important designer houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes and the 60’s saw the breakdown of old notions of the classical and the rise of the youth culture (Macleans, April 2002, 13). Social/Cultural Context “The ability to symbol creates needs unique to human beings while at the same time providing a means for attending to those needs: material needs, social needs, and psychic needs” (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3). The Louis Vuitton purse that I received for my 18th birthday symbolized a rite to passage into adult hood. I communicated to others that I was old enough to purchase and maintain a designer purse. Not only was this purse practical, it was also very stylish. It provided “material needs and social needs at the same time” (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3). Components of Culture The component of culture that describes why I wore this purse was social structure (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3). Purses and handbags play a huge role in gender distinction (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 3). They create a feminine sense of self for anyone, especially women. A certain purse may represent who that person is and what they do or what “social class” they fall under. Mechanisms of Organization Several mechanisms explain why I wore this purse. One that comes to mind is arts and aesthetics (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 4). The design of the bag is what separated me from other women that have purses. Another mechanism is economic organization (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 4) because my mom was able to purchase this designer purse that was very expensive. I felt that it represented my family’s status as well as me. Interactions The social structural dimension of economic organization would include the ways humans organize themselves and behave to achieve the production, distribution or consumption of clothing and textiles (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 5). Flip Flops Historical Context Shoes were created and designed to protect the feet from the natural hazards of weather/climate and the rough ground they walked on (Glamour, June 2000, 61). Early shoes were made from natural materials that were available. In cold countries, shoes were made from animal skins to keep their feet warm. In warm climates, the most common type of shoes to wear is sandals. Shoes can help tell the economic and social status, values, and styles of the owner. By looking at the pair of shoes, one can see that they reflect the personality of the person who is wearing them. Shoes are a necessity today, due to the changes of people’s life styles. Social/Cultural Context “Dress is a sub-cultural system, unique in its particular cultural manifestation, but universal in the fact of its expression (Hamilton, Fall 1987, 2). S...