THE DESIGN HISTORY READER CONSUMPTION, FROM THE HIDDEN CONSUMER - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

‘IN LONDON’S MAZE’: THE PLEASURES OF FASHIONABLE THE DESIGN HISTORY READER CONSUMPTION, FROM THE HIDDEN CONSUMER Christopher Breward (1999)

THE PLAYGROUND OF THE CITY LIFE: CLOTHING AND THE CONVIVIALITY OF BACHELORDOM  In the piece it talks about a man (‘a master’) with an assistant who helps the man dress. He has full control of his masters attire. Upper Class- It is suggested that he is the 'finished product of civilisation' because he is‘ He is booted, hatted and gloved’. ‘Cigarette case is made from enameled gold with an S inlaid in diamonds.’ ‘ Hand picks his flower for his button hole’.  The piece highlights his countless selection of canes, cravates and pins in which only the uper class could afford.  Lynn Hapgood reiterates this by suggesting that' the upper class in particular is portrayed as all surface since its concerns are with life as art, in a deliberate evasion of reality.'  There is a debate of masculinity as the men take care of their appearance. ‘ the problems city life gave to understanding male desire C.1880 + 1914’  Popular novels, tourist guides, journalistic accounts and adverts – both real and imaginary gave an ideal dandy (A man who places particular importance upon his physical appearance)  Senton (Master from the piece) was seen as a perfect example of masculinity and greediness pf acquiring money or material things

 Richard Dellamora writes about how male politicians have been blind the significance of homosexual scandal in 1890’s. He sees other historians as trying to protect the masculinity at the time.  Dellamora repositions the dandy (male) to be at the centre of interactions. He ignores the day to day commercial significance of his type.  ‘The dandy (male) consumes to excess while producing little or nothing’  The perception of Oscar Wilde is discussed and the influence that his 1895 Scandal had on masculinity in the twentieth century attitudes towards manliness.  Regenia Gagnier states that Oscar Wilde made a choice for the non- working class men to appear as a gentlemen, the manner of which had been perfected by the dandy (male).  Wilde also mocked ideas of gentlemanliness with disastrous results.  Sentons (male from piece) description describes a reflection of what London shops and catalogues offered ambitious young men.

 If a male dressed well like a dandy they represent and adhere to a smart society in an expanded area if consumer choices.  London and Londoners (published 1898) explains the above point where the author provides a tongue- in – cheek guidance to modern society. It pointed out the familiar knowledge that defined the powerful status of a fashionable bachelor.  The figure of a 'leisured bachelor' began to symbolise a modern and fashionable position by the 1890's.  1860’s began a celebration of the romantic, irresponsible lifestyle associated with the single man. This reached its highest point in 1900.  Bachelor Characteristics drew influences from political persuasion to physical appearance to interior decoration.  This was the climax of a man who lived a luxurious sociable lifestyle and spent his day ‘ researching articles’ for popular press in the comfort of a west end restaurant/café.

 Popular journals described the bachelor dandy in an emotional strain of the ideal. There were descriptions of their behaviour in the streets and bars and also their appearance.  For every clean-cut Englishman there was a more derogatory model supporting the ‘wicked’ attractions of the ‘east end’.  There was a tendency to consider them to be the same as certain forms of physical appearance and betrayal of the ideal gentleman appearance had prejudice(pre conceived opinion) implications.  Inversions of fashionable masulinity such as a 'Bohemian artist'(an artist who secedes from conventiality)who had a laboured manipulation of appearances became a potential rival to the bachelor.

WE THREE TRODDLES 1902 (NOVEL COVER)  Showed more negatives interpretations of a bachelor.  Presented problematic – expressed modern attitudes to city life.

 There were contradictory tensions between commercial cultures and artistic originality in the bohemians.  Threats to the mannered perfection pf the bachelor and his limits of his make-up and environment. There were possibilities in a wider urban culture of the commercial boundaries set up to describe a bachelors position as ‘west end sophistication’.  ‘In the west Pleasure is Business and in the east its an activity done for enjoyment’  Bachelor Figure has a close association to a fashions consumer culture. The Dapper persona of a bachelor drew accusations of being not genuine. This was from observations tied to the feminised and weary concerns of the west- end.  East end offered masculine pleasure, free from business and an arena in which the bachelor identifies matched dangerous connotations and mediation.