75605 - Writing for Fashion

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have the instruments to elaborate professional texts for written fashion communication through specific analysis of various textual typologies such as literature, the language of advertising and journalism.

Course contents

The course aim at investigating the strategies of fashion writings in the framework of italian and European literature from the second half of the Nineteenth century until today, through the analysis of the generic features of several different styles and types of texts. Texts devoted to the theme of fashion, between literature, criticism, journalism and advertising languages will be in-depht analysed, in particular several excerpts concerning, clothing, elegance and the development of the concept of beauty in modernity, with reference to authors such as Mallarmé, Baudelaire, d'Annunzio, Proust, the Futurists, Pasolini, Barthes, Arbasino, Quirino Conti. Particular attention will be devoted to female fashion writers and journalists, from Matilde Serao to Amalia Guglielminetti, from Irene Brin to Gianna Manzini, fron Camilla Cederna to Anna Piaggi. 

 

Classes start in the first semester 2017. Venue and schedule to be defined.

Readings/Bibliography

"Writing for Fashion" course handouts (paper copies available in November 2017 at Copisteria Tecnica in Rimini).

Roland Barthes, Il senso della moda. Forme e significati dell'abbigliamento, Torino, Einaudi, 2016.

Daniela Baroncini, La moda nella letteratura contemporanea, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2010.

 

Important: For students having difficulties with the italian readings, a special bibliography with English texts can be agreed to prepare for the exam as non-attending students. 

Bibliography in English for non-attending students having difficulties with the italian readings:

- Roland Barthes, The Language of Fashion, edited by A. Stafford and M. Carter, Berg /Power Publications 2006.

-Peter McNeil & Sanda Miller, Fashion, Writing and Criticism, Bloomsbury Academic 2014.

- Elizabeth Wilson, Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity, Rutgers University Press 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures.

As many of the texts to be dealt with are in Italian, exceptionally this lesson cycle will be held in the Italian language. In any case, also the English language can be used during the lessons.

 

Assessment methods

The final examination consists in an oral exam, during which the student must show:

- excellent knowledge of all mandatory readings as listed in the program

- critical consideration of the relevant topics and texts

- ability to interpret the proposed authors and their writing for fashion.

Individual written and oral papers are expected to be submitted during the course by those students who regularly attend classes.

The exam can be conducted also in English.

Office hours

See the website of Daniela Baroncini