The Clothed Body (Dress, Body, Culture)

Dress is everywhere imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. This compelling book convincingly demonstrates how clothing is analogous to a working language and is similarly underpinned by deeper meanings and philosophies.From tattoos and mini-skirts, to skin decoration, makeup and hair, Calefato unpicks the multiple functions of modern dress. Exploring intriguing commonalities - for example, between tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 BC and modern subcultural styles - Calefato considers the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play in what she aptly labels 'body cartography'. What we wear is a vehicle for the (often contentious) expression of politics, gender and identity, placing clothing at the root of a complex set of messages, many of which are paradoxical. Clothing may, for example, liberate through the pleasures of masquerade and at the same time 'cage' or control the body. The Clothed Body shows how semiotics can provide a convincing template for understanding dress in a wide range of contexts and will be essential reading for anyone interested in the meaning of what we wear. "Dress is everywhere imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. This book demonstrates how clothing is analogous to a working language and is similarly underpinned by deeper meanings and philosophies." "From tattoos and mini-skirts to skin decoration, makeup and hair, Calefato unpicks the multiple functions of modern dress. Exploring intriguing commonalities - for example, between tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 B.C. and modern subcultural styles - Calefato considers the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play in what she aptly labels 'body cartography'. What we wear is a vehicle for the (often contentious) expression of politics, gender and identity, and clothing is at the root of a complex set of messages, many of which are paradoxical. Clothing may, for example, liberate through the pleasures of masquerade and at the same time 'cage' or control the body." "The Clothed Body show how semiotics can provide a convincing template for understanding dress in a wide range of contexts and will be essential reading for anyone interested in the meaning of what we wear."--BOOK JACKET
What do tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 BC have in common with modern sub-cultural styles? From mini-skirts to skin decoration, make-up to hair, dress is imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. Calefato picks apart the multiple functions of modern dress, considering the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play. What we wear is a vehicle for the (often contentious) expression of politics, gender and identity and therefore clothing is at the root of a complex set of messages, many paradoxical. Clothing may, for example, liberate through the pleasures of masquerade and at the same time "cage" or control the body. The Clothed Body shows how semiotics can provide a convincing template for understanding dress in a wide range of contexts.
Annotation What do tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 BC have in common with modern sub-cultural styles? From mini-skirts to skin decoration, make-up to hair, dress is imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. Calefato picks apart the multiple functions of modern dress, considering the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play. What we wear is a vehicle for the (often contentious) expression of politics, gender and identity and therefore clothing is at the root of a complex set of messages, many paradoxical. Clothing may, for example, liberate through the pleasures of masquerade and at the same time "cage" or control the body. The Clothed Body shows how semiotics can provide a convincing template for understanding dress in a wide range of contexts What do tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 BC have in common with modern sub-cultural styles? From mini-skirts to skin decoration, make-up to hair, dress is imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. Calefato picks apart the multiple functions of modern dress, considering the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play. What we wear is a vehicle for the (often contentious) expression of politics, gender and identity and therefore clothing is at the root of a complex set of messages, many paradoxical. Clothing may, for example, liberate through the pleasures of masquerade and at the same time "cage" or control the body. The Clothed Body shows how semiotics can provide a convincing template for understanding dress in a wide range of contexts. Introduction -- Chapter 1. Dress, Language and Communication -- Chapter 2. Dress and Social Identity -- Chapter 3. Style and Styles between Fashion and the Grotesque -- Chapter 4. Taste between Common Sense and Received Meaning -- Chapter 5. Everyday Models -- Chapter 6. The Face and the Gaze --Chapter 7. Degree Zero of Fashion and the Body: The Model, the Nude and the Doll -- Chapter 8. Intertextual Strategies and Contemporary Mythology -- Chapter 9. Fashion and Cinema -- Chapter 10. Wearing Black -- Chapter 11. Mass Fashion: The Role of Fashion in Music -- Chapter 12. Time -- Chapter 13. Fashion Intertexts -- Chapter 14. Objects -- Bibliography -- Index Dress is everywhere imbued with symbols that reflect different meanings in different contexts. This compelling book convincingly demonstrates how clothing is analogous to a working language and is similarly underpinned by deeper meanings and philosop hies. From tattoos and mini-skirts, to skin decoration, makeup and hair, Calefato unpicks the multiple functions of modern dress. Exploring intriguing commonalities - for example, between tattooed Egyptian mummies of 2000 BC and modern subcultural st yles - Calefato considers the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at pla. Dress, Language And Communication -- Dress And Social Identity -- Style And Styles Between Fashion And The Grotesque -- Taste Between Common Sense And Received Meaning -- Everyday Models -- The Face And The Gaze -- Degree Zero Of Fashion And The Body : The Model, The Nude And The Doll -- Intertextual Strategies And Contemporary Mythology -- Fashion And Cinema -- Wearing Black -- Mass Fashion : The Role Of Fashion In Music -- Time -- Fashion Intertexts -- Objects. Patrizia Calefato ; English Translation By Lisa Adams. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 159-164) And Index. From tattoos to mini-skirts, to skin decoration, make-up and hair, the author examines the many functions of modern dress. Considering the psychological, cultural, spiritual and symbolic significances at play, she argues clothing is at the root of a complex set of messages, many of which are paradoxical