Fashion and Film

This course follows the rise of fashion and costume design in films from the late 19th to the late twentieth century in order to understand, contextualize, and critique the hegemonic structures of twentieth century cinema. Following an historic timeline, it will examine stereotypes, tropes and types in cinematic history, including the Vamp, the Arab, the American Indian savage, the African American Mammie, the Asian Dragon Lady, Latinx Zoot Suiters, the Black Action Film Heroine in Blaxploitation films, and Disability as Narrative within the development of cinema.Seminal costume designers as well as Fashion designers who made film costumes will be addressed.