Dangerous Bodies: New Global Perspectives on Fashion and Transgression

This edited book explores the cultural intersection between bodies, fashion, and transgression, examining how fashion can be used as a form of resistance and how bodies occupy the grey area between social control and power. Contributors come from various disciplines and international locations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 237 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This edited book offers fresh insights into the realms of fashion, the body, and politics, aiming to investigate the intricate cultural crossroads where bodies, fashion, and transgression converge, often in unexpected places. The authors assembled here raise thought-provoking questions about the political significance of bodies in culture, exploring how fashion plays a role in resistance, navigating governmental boundaries, or challenging institutional power. They argue that fashion is not just a matter of personal style but a facet of modern warfare, capable of both defending and attacking in the cultural realm. Consequently, the book delves into the complex dynamics between social control and the resistance to power, examining how fashioned bodies occupy the gray area between these two forces.

Spanning an interdisciplinary and international scope, this book brings together contributors from diverse disciplines such as Art History and Critical Practice, Cultural Studies, Fashion Critical Studies, Film and Literary Studies, Performance Studies, Politics and International Studies, Sociology, Gender, Queer, LGBTI, and Critical Race Studies. Their diverse perspectives and expertise contribute to a rich and comprehensive exploration of the themes at hand.

In the first chapter, the editors provide an introduction that sets the stage for the subsequent chapters. They highlight the importance of understanding the relationship between fashion, the body, and politics in contemporary society, emphasizing the need to challenge traditional narratives and explore new perspectives. They also introduce the interdisciplinary nature of the book, emphasizing the contributions of various disciplines and the potential for cross-disciplinary dialogue.

The following chapters delve into the multifaceted aspects of the cultural intersection between bodies, fashion, and transgression. The authors explore how fashion shapes and reflects societal norms, expectations, and power dynamics, while also challenging and subverting them. They examine how fashion can be used as a form of resistance against oppressive systems and structures, as well as how it can be appropriated and transformed to promote social change.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the role of the body in fashion and politics. The authors argue that the body is not just a passive object but a dynamic agent that can be used to express identity, challenge norms, and challenge power structures. They explore how fashion can be used to create and reinforce gender, racial, and sexual identities, as well as how it can be used to challenge these identities and promote inclusivity.

Another important theme is the relationship between fashion and power. The authors examine how fashion is used by individuals and institutions to assert power, control, and dominance, as well as how it can be resisted and subverted. They explore how fashion can be used to challenge hierarchies, promote equality, and challenge dominant narratives.

The book also explores the impact of fashion on the body and the body on fashion. The authors examine how fashion can affect the physical and psychological well-being of individuals, as well as how it can be used to promote body positivity and self-expression. They also explore how the body can be transformed through fashion, as individuals use clothing and accessories to express their identities and create new forms of self-identity.

In conclusion, this edited book offers a valuable contribution to the field of fashion, the body, and politics. It provides fresh insights into the complex cultural intersections between these three realms, challenging traditional narratives and promoting new perspectives. The interdisciplinary and international nature of the book ensures a broad range of perspectives and expertise, making it an essential resource for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in these areas. By exploring the political significance of the body, the role of fashion in resistance, and the dynamics between social control and the resistance to power, this book contributes to our understanding of the complex and ever-evolving relationship between fashion, the body, and politics in contemporary society.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 217 x 154 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031062070
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023