fashion+history+project+proposal

** Final Project Proposal **  As a female teenager living in America, I can’t help but be influenced by the way people look and dress. I chose “fashion trends” as my topic because I feel that clothes and fashion are a big part of any young girls’ life. Without meaning to, people automatically look at someone and judge them based on the way they are dressed. There have been numerous fashion changes throughout the years that I think have reflected the time period and the attitudes of the women living in that time period. I think these changes have influenced the feminist movement, as well as the feminist movement influencing these changes. The essential question I am asking is: How have fashion trends throughout the years reflected the time period and the attitudes of women living in that time period, and in turn, influenced the feminist movement? I first have to figure out what time periods I am going to focus on. Then I have to research the different fashion trends that came about within those time periods (shoulder pads, bell bottoms, high waist, hairspray, shoes, etc.) and focus on a few, not all of them. Why did these changes come about? How do these fashion statements reflect the time and circumstances? What were women doing and feeling during these time periods? I need to figure out what my physical product is going to be, and create a visual aid to go with my oral presentation.

April 1: figure out what my final product is going to be April 8: expert source identified, figure out time period I am going to focus on April 15: Research fashion trends within specified time periods April 22: Connect fashion trends to feminist movement April 28: annotated works cited draft, start work on physical product May 6: start work on visual aid for presentation, and start practicing actual presentation May 12: project update, continue work on physical product, visual aid, and presentation May 19: Final Annotated Work Cited, practice! May 20-26: presentations

For my final product, I plan to make a video documenting the changes in American women fashion throughout the years. I imagine the video as a sort of "fashion-show," with my friends as the models. I'm going to carefully pick out each outfit to reflect different times in American history, and how fashion influenced the feminist movement during these times. I hope to add in audio to the video as well, explaining the fashion changes. Videos are a good way to capture the audience's attention, and also enlighten them about a certain topic. I hope that through my video, others will be able to learn about how fashion trends throughout the years have reflected the time period and attitudes of women living in that time period, and in turn, influenced the feminist movement. Hopefully, the video will be an educational tool for the class and others to follow.