First Year Seminar: Pleasure and Pain: European Fashion as (Art) History

3 units

In the words of Louis XIV, fashion is the mirror of history. This first-year seminar will explore what fashion in (art) history can tell us about gender, sexuality, class, race, and revolution. Incorporating a global perspective (although concentrating primarily on the West), further themes to be considered include the textile trade, commerce and empire, identity politics and nation-building. From the chopine to the corset, the pannier to the Pompadour pump, we will incorporate surviving examples of material culture as we explore the art and history of European fashion from the 15th to the 19th century. Course is for first-year, non-transfer students only.