Topic outline

  • Welcome to the course Fashion in Society!

    This course focuses on fashion as an important societal, cultural and embodied phenomenon. Through lectures, texts and workshops on topical themes, you will learn to understand how fashion is shaped by forces beyond design. The course also gives you tools for thinking and contextualizing your own creative practice (for example the written part of your BA- or MA-thesis).


    There are two possible ways to pass the course:

    1. Attending lectures and making assigned tasks (see the program below)

    2. Self-study (see instructions in the section "Self-Study Option")


    PROGRAM FOR LECTURES

    Note! Lectures are held live on campus! 


    28.2. FASHION AND SOCIETY

    Lecture hall: U142 U4 

    9.15-12 Introduction to the course


    13.3. CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY

    Lecture hall: U142 U4 

    9.15-12 Lecture-seminar: Fashion and cultural sustainability

    Pre-assignment: 

    1. Read the the texts on cultural sustainability and fashion scandals, see the texts here

    2. Bring 1 item that describes the theme of "cultural sustainability" from a chosen perspective. Be prepared to explain the item and how it connects to the texts about cultural sustainability and fashion scandals in a small group in class.


    16–18 Think Zero! Aalto X Polestar Talk. A panel discussion on the future of sustainable design and work opportunities beyond fashion design. Panelists: Aalto alumni Sofia Ilmonen and Boram Yoo, Kati Ihamäki, the Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Fiskars Group and Maria Uggla, Head of Color and Material at Polestar. Moderator: Annamari Vänskä.

    Venue: Polestar Helsinki, Lämmittäjänkatu 6, 00880 Helsinki. Nearest metro station: Herttoniemi.

    Here is the link to the event page. You have to register for the event 6 March the latest.


    27.3. FASHION AND DEI-VALUES

    Lecture hall: U142 U4     

    9.15–12 Lecture-seminar by Ida-Sofia Tuomisto: Fashion and Inclusivity

    Pre-assignment: 

    1. Listen to the podcast and read the texts marked for this session about inclusivity, see the texts here

    2. Write your thoughts of the topic in Flinga through this link: Fashion and Inclusivity before our seminar


    10.4. EXHIBITION VISIT

    Visiting the exhibition Schjerfbeck & Fashion – Art and Costume History 1880–1950 at Villa Gyllenberg, Kuusisaarenpolku 11, 00340 Helsinki. Meeting at the museum: First group at 9 am, second group at 10 am.

    GROUPS: If your surname starts with the letter A-L, you are in the first group (9 am), if your surname starts with the letter M-Ö, you belong to the second group (10 am). Be on time! Those doing self-study also welcome, but contact Ida-Sofia if you want to join.

    Pre-assignment:

    Read the the texts on fashion, art and curating to prepare for the visit, see the texts here.


    17.4. FINAL PRESENTATIONS & WRAPPING UP THE COURSE

    Fashion in the 21st century: a new definition.

    Lecture hall: U141 U3

    9.15-10.15 Presentations in small groups

    10.30-11.30 Digitality, games and fashion. Lecture by Heli Salomaa from Fashion Design Technology, School of Design Innovation, Victoria University of Wellington

    11.30-12 Wrapping up the course

    Schedule can have minor adjustments during the day.

    Note: Download the content of your presentation in advance, 16.4., into a folder in MyCourses (see more instructions of this below in section "Final presentation")


    Course deliverables 

    To pass the course, you will do the following assignments:

    1. Attend lecture-seminars

    2. Read articles, attend visits and discussions 

    4. Prepare a 10-minute -long oral presentation on Fashion in the 21st century: a new definition. 

    Instructions:

    Based on the learnings and readings on the course, and your own findings, think about a new definition of fashion that explains how fashion changes the world critically and yet creatively. Use at least three articles from the course and two sources you have found yourself. 

    Be prepared to present your definition to your fellow students in class. You can bring helpful devices – objects, images etc. – with you to support your oral presentation.


    FORMAT OF THE CLASSES

    The course convenes five times. Classes on campus are held in the lecture halls U142 U4 and U141 U3. On-campus classes in the morning will start with an introductory lecture and are followed by discussions and seminar-workshops. Afternoons are dedicated to your own studying.

    On top of this, we have two off-campus meetings, a panel discussion at Helsinki Polestar and an exhibition visit at Villa Gyllenberg.


    PASSING THE COURSE

    Attending lectures, seminars and visits and delivering a final oral presentation in a small-group. All work is done during the course.


    FINAL PRESENTATION

    You will prepare a 10-minute long oral presentation on a new definition of fashion in the 21st century. Think about how fashion can be a positive energy and a critical way of thinking in changing the world. Use course materials and your own findings in making the task. A ten-minute oral presentation resembles approximately 2-3 pages of written text. You can create a short definition of fashion first, and then argue for your new definition. Write the definition and its justification on paper and rehearse your presentation before the class. When you present your definition to others, don't just read from the paper but tell about the problems you find in the current idea of fashion, and how you would redefine the concept. You are more than welcome to bring items – images, objects, clothes – with you to support your presentation. 

    When preparing the oral presentation, remember that the aim of the course is to help you to think about the role of fashion in contemporary world; to start building a framework for your own creative work; and / or to inspire you to think further the topic in your upcoming thesis or other projects. You must use at least three articles from the course materials and two that you have found yourself. 

    Download the "manuscript" of your final presentation in a folder named "Final presentations" on Tuesday 16 April the latest.


    ABSENCES

    1. You can be absent once. Your presence on lectures is monitored. 

    2. If you know that you will be absent more than once, you are recommended do take the self-study option where you can do the course in your own pace


    USING AI

    If you use AI-generated content e.g. in your final presentation, do it ethically: be open about any ideas or content that you have generated by artificial intelligence and tell how you have done it; what kind of questions or prompts you have utilised and why and what the outcomes were etc. Remember that you are not allowed to present any content generated by artificial intelligence as your own. 

    Mark the content generated by AI in your final presentation paper and include references to the name of the AI model or service, the date, and when the content was generated. You can refer to the page "How to cite ChatGPT" on apa.org for more detailed instructions.


    GRADING

    The course is graded pass/fail. 


    HOUSE RULES

    • Let’s try to make the course a safe and inclusive place for everyone
    • Let's respect others and be on time on the course
    • Let’s try not to make identity-related assumptions about each other. You can talk to Annamari and Ida-Sofia if you feel unsafe or violated
    • It is always ok to ask if you feel you don’t understand a word or concept or anything else
    • Let’s try to give everyone an equal chance to participate in group discussions
    • We should always choose a person who moderates the small group discussion, giving everyone the chance to speak
    • Let’s try not to talk over others!