Theatre 154 - “Reading” Dress: Archival Study of Clothing

How does one “read” clothing? How accurate is the interpretation? What clues does one miss or misread, especially in dress from an era unfamiliar to them? What information can one look for to “explain” the significance or meaning of the garment? This course is an introduction to a methodology for the study of dress as material culture, examining physical structure, terminology, technology of production, and some of the historical, social and cultural variables shaping, and shaped by, these objects. It is a class using objects from the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. Each student studies several similar garments, identifying common features as well as distinctions that may reflect different classes, aesthetic choices and industrial influences. Enrollment limited to 20 students.