转帖:杨德昌的一封信

p164336323

楊德昌最喜愛的十大電影

Marcel L’Herbier的L’Argent(1928)
成瀨巳喜男的《浮雲》(1955)
小林正樹的《切腹》(1962)
菲德烈珂‧費里尼(Federico Fellini)的《八又二分之ㄧ》(8½, 1963)
史丹利‧庫柏力克(Stanley Kubrick)的《發條橘子》(A Clockwork Orange, 1971)
維納‧荷索(Werner Herzog)的《天譴》(Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes, 1972)
伍迪‧艾倫(Woody Allen)的《曼哈頓》(Manhattan, 1979)
阿藍‧雷奈(Alain Resnais)的《我的美國舅舅》(Mon oncle d’Amérique, 1980)
安德烈‧塔可夫斯基(Andrei Tarkovsky)的《鄉愁》(Nostalghia, 1983)
大衛‧林區(David Lynch)的《藍絲絨》(Blue Velvet, 1986)
*以上以年代順序排列

資料來源:《影響電影雜誌》第三十八期:68P

This entry was posted on 星期六, 01月 23rd, 2010 at 5:38 下午 and is filed under 转帖. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

245 Responses to “转帖:杨德昌的一封信”

  1. www.rah-sb.com 说到:

    皆、アレキサンダー・マックィーンのデザインと思われる服を着ていますね。皆黒が中心です現在、ロンドンは「ロンドン・ファッション・ウィーク」というコレクションの真っただ中。ダーリンは、追悼式に参加後、他のショーを見るためにあちこちまわったそうです。相変わらず忙しいダーリンです月日の日間、パークハイアット六本木で行われていた”weareurope”というファッションの展示会に行ってきました欧州連合(EU)のサポートを受けた組の新進気鋭デザイナーが東京に一挙集結する

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    ミリタリーものの服を着こなすって、よく考えると凄いですよね。戦場の空気を日常生活に持ち込んでいるわけだから。でもそう考えると、ジーンズも元は作業着だった。アウトドアブランドをタウンユースに落としこむのだって、今や当たり前の時代なわけだしそして今、こんな衣服が話題となっているそうです。2011年に設立された「bon.」は、和尚たちが使用する作務衣や頭陀袋などを、普段使いに適したデザインにアレンジし直しているファッションブランド「若い僧侶から『法衣や小物でオシャレを楽しみたい!』という声を聞いたのが、設立のきっかけでした」(同ブランド・岩瀬代表)。企画・設計の段階から和尚様と職人が参加し、アイデアを出し合いながらアイテムは制作されている。言わば、和尚様発のカジュアル。略して「オショカジ」と呼んでいただきたいのです!

  4. ※two_two 展は12:0020:00(最終日のみ17:00まで)京都駅前に「マルチメディア京都」を11月5日にオープン

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  6. この、『しまらー』と呼ばれる一群の新消費者群は、今では、ファッションセンターしまむらを支える巨大な消費者集団となっており、さらに、日々、増殖を続けています。そして、『巨大な、”しまむらファン”』、『大の”しまむら贔屓”』の集団として、さらに、拡大し続けていると言われています。

  7. 昨年あたりからジワリジワリと導火線に火がつき始めましたが、今年は世代を問わず、ブレイク予想。カウチンセーターの起源は、北米先住民カウチン族の手編みセーターで、フェアアイルニットは、スコットランド北方のフェア島。ハイゲージニットならではのざっくり感・ほっこり感は、加速度的にスピードを増す世が、「やすらぎ」を求めるがゆえでしょうか。たとえば……142ページを。カウチンとフェアアイルニットのおいしいところを掛け合わせたようなカーディガンを子供っぽくならずに取り入れているあたりは、さすがはカリスマスタイリスト、高橋リタさん!きこりファッションとは何なのか考えてみた

  8. Whilst fashion may try to subvert or construct gender identities, it may simply support social ideals already in place. As Malcom Barnard writes in his book Fashion as Communication, “Signs are only meaningful on the basis of their relations to all other signs” (1996, p156). In this way fashion can only convey a meaning when coupled with other signs (particularly the body itself), and as such cannot construct a gendered identity of its own accord. In order for clothing to be a signifier of a gender identity, that gender identity must already be constructed in order to give fashion its meaning. In which case, fashion is not constructing gender identities; it is reflecting and reinforcing them. Not all fashions have been accepted by society, the most obvious examples being skirts and the colour pink not being acceptable for men (Lurie, 1992, p214). Some designers, like Jennifer Minniti, have attempted to promote skirts and dresses as a male alternative; however such designs have not succeeded in the mainstream (Shreve, 1998). This is likely due to them not conforming to society’s expectations of gender identities. Men in skirts are still considered to be cross dressing, and as such skirts remain signifiers of femininity. Gender identity also comprises more than appearance. Gesture, behaviour and social standing all contribute to a person’s gender identity, and whilst fashion can attempt to draw on or hide these signifiers it cannot do so completely.

  9. There is no inherent reason for an item of clothing, for example a skirt, to be considered feminine. Roland Barthes, in his book The Diseases of Costume, writes of theatrical dress as a kind of language in which the basic element is the sign (Lurie, 1992, p3). This statement can be expanded to include all elements of dress away from the theatre. If clothing is a sign therefore, it must be given a meaning and this meaning, as with all signs, is constructed. For example, society has identified the skirt as a signifier of femininity, which has been reinforced through repeated exposure (both through the media and on the street) to images of women in skirts and men in trousers. The fact that the gender signification of this garment has altered indicates that fashion, just like gender itself, is a social construction, with fashion items becoming loaded signs. If our appearance is an accumulation of signs then we each reveal something about ourselves through our choice of garments; clothing becomes a reflection of our identity. Whilst fashion does allow women to experiment with their image and different ways of portraying femininity, as something primarily constructed for the male gaze it still confines women to a choice between constructed female identities (Barnard, 1996, p140).

  10. In society today there is a clear divide between fashions considered feminine and those considered masculine. However, is this a result of the fashion industry itself, or is the industry merely reflecting the changing attitudes of society as a whole? It is difficult to determine where the line between gender reproduction and gender construction stands in regards to fashion and dress, as it can be read in a number of ways. Fashion has been used in attempts to deconstruct gender stereotypes, as in some cases of cross dressing, but has also been used as a means of reinforcing them via items like the high heeled shoe. Fashion has been a part of western culture for centuries and as fashion has changed so too has its significations. The style of the garments we wear, their fabrics and colours, all carry signifiers of various aspects of our lives. In times past, fashion trends were set by the middle and upper classes, with the result that fashion became a signifier of social standing. For example during the Baroque period of the seventeenth century it was fashionable for both men and woman of the upper classes to wear garments decorated with large amounts of lace and ribbon (Stecker, 1996, p14). This gave men’s fashion a highly feminine appearance; however they were quite distinct from the lower classes which did not utilise such decoration. In the present day this class distinction has lessened and a gender distinction has become predominant. This division is established almost as soon as we are born. In western culture it is customary for male babies to wear blue and female babies to wear pink. earning a living) (Lurie, 1992, p214). In the adult world it is acceptable for women to wear blue, however men still rarely wear pink, and those who do are often accused of being effeminate and homosexual (Lurie, 1992, p214). One theory states that one of the first functions of clothing was to attract the opposite sex. By only revealing and highlighting specific parts of the body, much can be left to the imagination and thus sexual desire is increased (Lurie, 1992, p213). This is similar to Freud’s assertion that “visual impressions remain the most frequent pathway along which libidinal excitation is aroused” (Freud, 1977, p69). In order to be successful in attracting a member of the opposite sex the garments must therefore serve to distinguish men from women. On a basic level this can be seen in department stores where the women’s clothing section is distinct from the men’s. However the relationship between fashion and gender is significantly more complicated, with the definition of what gender actually is having a significant effect on how fashion could be seen to impact it.

  11. Fashion perpetuates the image of the slender woman being the ideal feminine and can sometimes have significantly detrimental effects. Due to the mass production of clothing, it has become easier for the fashion industry to encourage women to be slender (Macdonald, 1995, p208). Many of the most fashionable garments are not made larger than a woman’s Australian size fourteen. This encourages women to diet and exercise in order to lose weight, a trend also encouraged by the many advertisements involving slender women. One disturbing result of society’s fascination with being thin has been the rise in eating disorders, including anorexia (Macdonald, 1995, p208). In Australia’s November 2004 issue of Cosmopolitan an article was run entitled ‘Anorexia for Sale’. This article discussed Mary Kate Olson, a well known actress, and her public struggle with Anorexia Nervosa. Images of Olsen and other famous women who appear to be unhealthily thin, such a Kate Moss, have been used on websites known as ‘pro ana’ sites, that is, websites supporting anorexia as a ‘lifestyle choice’ as opposed to an illness (Percival, 2004, p62). Many of these sites have begun to sell ‘ana bracelets’ and ‘ana necklaces’ which are a means of identifying other anorexics and which serve as a reminder not to eat. This jewellery has proven quite popular within the anorexic community (Percival, 2004, p62). This is an extreme example of fashion (or in this case accessories) being used to specifically propagate the idea of being thin. On the other hand clothing can also be used to raise awareness of eating disorders and encourage women not to go so far. T shirts with the slogan ‘Save Mary Kate’ and a drawing of her emaciated figure were released with just this intention (Percival, 2004, p62). Released when Mary Kate began her rehabilitation, the emaciated drawing on the t shirts is far from attractive and draws attention to her bones and the unnaturalness of being so thin. The words ‘Save Mary Kate’ could be read in one of two ways however, they could refer to the fact that she is need of help, thus constructing her as a victim, or they could be referring to the desirability of her image and a wish that she remain so thin, thus the implication could be ‘Save Mary Kate from the rehabilitation clinic’. This second reading is supported by the image itself, in which she is smiling and returning the gaze of the viewer. This subverts the intended message that she is a victim.

  12. Cross dressing has been utilized by performers like comedian Barry Humphries, as a means of making a social statement. Humphries’ famous character Dame Edna Everage has become a popular entertainment figure. Through this character Humphries is able to explore and parody the construction of femininity. Dame Edna is deliberately extreme in her appearance, often wearing large ornate glasses and purple hair (Dame Edna The Official Site). She is an example of exaggerated femininity which borders on the grotesque. She is a loaded signifier, with her purple hair and extremely costume like clothes she is the epitome of gender as construction and denaturalises the idea that there is a natural gendered state. Such parody is not limited to cross dressing however, it can also be revealed through strategically designed garments like the Jean Paul Gaultier corset which Madonna famously wore.

  13. Gaultier’s design can be read as an attempt at subverting the objectification of women through fashion. By taking on a traditional signifier of women’s restriction, that is, the corset, and placing large cone shaped breasts on it, it can be said that Gaultier has created an image of female empowerment (French, 2004). By making the corset visible he highlights the way in which women have been forced to conform to accepted standards of beauty, and the way in which these standards are constructed. The cones add to this reading by removing the maternal aspects of the breast and indicating the way in which they have been objectified and the unnatural form that has become the beauty standard in western culture (French, 2004). However this design could also be seen not as a parody and symbol of empowerment, but as a reinforcement of patriarchal ideals.

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    The ‘gaze’ plays a significant role in the maintenance of the male/female binary and as such the separation of gender identities. The ‘gaze’ (that is, the act of looking at and objectifying the opposite sex) is considered predominantly masculine, with many images of women in the media being constructed for the male audience (Barnard, 1996, p140). However when a man is the subject of the gaze the binary is not destroyed, as merely reversing the act of ‘looking’ and being ‘looked at’ does not alter the active/passive, male/female binary. These must be transcended in order to begin breaking down the distinction between gender identities (Barnard, 1996, p140). As such fashion, by encouraging the male gaze and helping to define masculine from feminine is supporting the male/female binary. Cross dressing is one way of making it especially clear that this male/female binary exists.

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  16. 車両解説を担当した上野金太郎副社長は、「6代目となる新型SLは、革新的な軽量フルアルミニウムボディーを始め、ブルーダイレクトテクノロジーを用いた最新世代の直噴エンジン、メルセデス・ベンツならではの安全装備など、さまざまな最先端テクノロジーを装備。贅を尽くしたインテリアやダイナミックなエクステリアデザインをまとうことで、時代を代表する新たなスポーツロードスターに生まれ変わりました」とコメントデトロイトショーでのワールドプレミアを紹介した関連記事などでもすでに報じられているが、新しいSLクラスにおける最大のトピックスはアルミ素材で構成されることになったボディーシェル。実際に発表会場には新型SLのホワイトボディーが展示されていたが、ロールオーバー時に乗員を保護する役目を与えられたフロントピラーのみが高張力鋼板チューブを内蔵するスチールシートとなっているほかは、ボディーシェル全体の約90がアルミニウム製となっている。これにより、SL350では先代比140kg減という大幅な車重軽減を実現し、車名のLに込められた「軽量」という意味合いがさらに強められ、運動性能に磨きをかけることに加え、現代のクルマに求められる環境性能の向上にも寄与しているこのほかにも発表会の会場では、デザイナーの中里唯馬氏が新しいSLクラスをイメージソースに製作した新作ドレスのお披露目も実施されたこれは同社が昨年から冠スポンサーを務めている「Mercedes Benz Fashion Week TOKYO(メルセデス・ベンツ ファッション・ウィーク東京)」との連動企画の一部として行われたもの。発表会当日は、3月24日まで開催されるメルセデス・ベンツ ファッション・ウィーク東京2012 13秋冬コレクションの開催初日と重なっており、会場のメルセデス・ベンツ コネクションは東京ミッドタウンとともに公式会場となっている新型SLクラスと並んで公開された新作ドレスは、素材選びや色づかい、スタイリングなどによってSLの独自な世界感が表現されており、会場にも展示されたファイアオパールの新型SLクラスをイメージしたドレスになっていると言うディストロニック・プラス、アクティブレーンキーピングアシスト、アクティブブラインドスポットアシストなどを備える「レーダーセーフティパッケージ」を全車に標準装備

  17. A woman wearing men’s clothing does not conform to the feminine ideal and as such is recognisably subverting it. The fact that this subversion is identifiable highlights the gendered nature of the fashion industry and the way in which it supports society’s belief in the feminine being separate from the masculine. If gender identity is learnt, then by choosing our own clothes we reflect how well we have learnt to be masculine or feminine. For cross dressers fashion is a means of either constructing a gendered identity different to the one expected of them or parodying the constructed nature of gender itself.

  18. Judith Butler has been an influential figure in the study of whether gender is a construction or inherent. According to Butler in her book Gender Trouble, a gender identity is a series of gender signifiers, for example, gestures, which are learnt via mimesis and reinforced through repetition (Butler, 1990, p6). Through this reinforcement the performance of gender also becomes internalised so that we come to believe these masculine and feminine identities are ‘normal’. As such, gender is a social construction imposed on individuals based on their anatomy (sexual identity) (Butler, 1990, p6 If gender identity is learnt, then it is not inherent, and therefore does not necessarily coincide with ones sexual identity. By encoding specific garments and styles as either feminine or masculine, it becomes much clearer what gender someone is because their appearance (and as such part of their gender identity) is expected to coincide with their sexual identity. In this way, what is considered masculine and feminine in regards to dress is also a social construction. As fashion is primarily considered a feminine concern (, it is through examples of the female gender identity that fashions influence can best be seen.

  19. A woman wearing men’s clothing does not conform to the feminine ideal and as such is recognisably subverting it. The fact that this subversion is identifiable highlights the gendered nature of the fashion industry and the way in which it supports society’s belief in the feminine being separate from the masculine. If gender identity is learnt, then by choosing our own clothes we reflect how well we have learnt to be masculine or feminine. For cross dressers fashion is a means of either constructing a gendered identity different to the one expected of them or parodying the constructed nature of gender itself.

  20. Whilst fashion may try to subvert or construct gender identities, it may simply support social ideals already in place. As Malcom Barnard writes in his book Fashion as Communication, “Signs are only meaningful on the basis of their relations to all other signs” (1996, p156). In this way fashion can only convey a meaning when coupled with other signs (particularly the body itself), and as such cannot construct a gendered identity of its own accord. In order for clothing to be a signifier of a gender identity, that gender identity must already be constructed in order to give fashion its meaning. In which case, fashion is not constructing gender identities; it is reflecting and reinforcing them. Not all fashions have been accepted by society, the most obvious examples being skirts and the colour pink not being acceptable for men (Lurie, 1992, p214). Some designers, like Jennifer Minniti, have attempted to promote skirts and dresses as a male alternative; however such designs have not succeeded in the mainstream (Shreve, 1998). This is likely due to them not conforming to society’s expectations of gender identities. Men in skirts are still considered to be cross dressing, and as such skirts remain signifiers of femininity. Gender identity also comprises more than appearance. Gesture, behaviour and social standing all contribute to a person’s gender identity, and whilst fashion can attempt to draw on or hide these signifiers it cannot do so completely.

  21. エアロビなどの有酸素運動の目標としているのは「脂肪を消費しやすくする」、「心肺機能や筋力」の発達にあります。正当な体勢で行えば、からだ全部が筋肉痛を覚える程、とても有効なトレーニング方といえるのです。最近話題のヒプノセラピーのセッションを体験することで、特に意識することなく食事量自体を管理して無理しないで運動するようにできれば、「キツイダイエット」 は全く不要になる。話題のコーヒーを使った腸内洗浄というもの、簡単に言えばいわば浣腸ですが、お腹まわりのだぶつきが解消されてきたといえます。大体、日に一度の割合で行ってみています。密かに人気の腸洗浄をやってみたことがある方ここにいらっしゃいますか?便秘でなくてもよく聞く宿便ってありますよね?腸洗浄を試したら顔の皮膚もきれいになるし、スリムになれます。ダイエットを行うにはマイルストーンが必ずいると思います。まずは太ももをすっきりさせたい!と切望する人たちにわかってほしいめどとなる基本値は、おおまかに太ももの幅「自分の身長0.290.31」といえます超人気の“ロングブレス”は長いスパンの呼吸を度々繰り返して、深層部の筋肉である脊柱起立筋や腹覆筋を鍛え上げ、代謝率の高い体を作りながらウエスト位置のトレーニングにもっていくというもの。あまり考慮せずただスマートになるだけでは、あなたが思うほど美人にはなれないのです!一番コワイのは減量したことによって恐ろしいタルミが出現して、肌のハリが少なくなり、痩身前よりも年取って見えてしまうことですね。確実にダイエット効果が高めるのには、一日あたり納豆パックを食べることが肝心なのです。パックを一回に胃に入れるのは厳しいのでパックずつ回に分けて食事と共に食べると問題なく食べられます。むやみな低カロリー食を続けると、やがて脳が栄養不足であるという事態を強く意識する。このままの状態を続けるとホメオスタシス機能が働いてきて、身体を省エネルギーにして空腹状態に対応するのだ。めったに価値のないと思われる健康を害する危険なダイエット法の中には、体重が減少しないだけでなく健康な体にとって損害を与えるものもあります。こんな考え違いのダイエット、試みたことありませんか?

  22. Fashion can certainly be used to parody, subvert and deconstruct gender identities (particularly the feminine), however, in the mainstream, it can only ever reflect the social conscious behind it. If society is not ready for men to wear skirts, then skirts will not be bought by the majority of men. Whilst designers like Jean Paul Gaultier can attempt to deconstruct gender stereotypes through fashion, many of these subversions can still be read as supporting the distinction between gender identities. Fashion and dress is influenced by both the body itself and the range of signs that it refers to, making it difficult to determine where fashion ends and social consciousness begins.

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  24. There is no inherent reason for an item of clothing, for example a skirt, to be considered feminine. Roland Barthes, in his book The Diseases of Costume, writes of theatrical dress as a kind of language in which the basic element is the sign (Lurie, 1992, p3). This statement can be expanded to include all elements of dress away from the theatre. If clothing is a sign therefore, it must be given a meaning and this meaning, as with all signs, is constructed. For example, society has identified the skirt as a signifier of femininity, which has been reinforced through repeated exposure (both through the media and on the street) to images of women in skirts and men in trousers. The fact that the gender signification of this garment has altered indicates that fashion, just like gender itself, is a social construction, with fashion items becoming loaded signs. If our appearance is an accumulation of signs then we each reveal something about ourselves through our choice of garments; clothing becomes a reflection of our identity. Whilst fashion does allow women to experiment with their image and different ways of portraying femininity, as something primarily constructed for the male gaze it still confines women to a choice between constructed female identities (Barnard, 1996, p140).

  25. Judith Butler has been an influential figure in the study of whether gender is a construction or inherent. According to Butler in her book Gender Trouble, a gender identity is a series of gender signifiers, for example, gestures, which are learnt via mimesis and reinforced through repetition (Butler, 1990, p6). Through this reinforcement the performance of gender also becomes internalised so that we come to believe these masculine and feminine identities are ‘normal’. As such, gender is a social construction imposed on individuals based on their anatomy (sexual identity) (Butler, 1990, p6 If gender identity is learnt, then it is not inherent, and therefore does not necessarily coincide with ones sexual identity. By encoding specific garments and styles as either feminine or masculine, it becomes much clearer what gender someone is because their appearance (and as such part of their gender identity) is expected to coincide with their sexual identity. In this way, what is considered masculine and feminine in regards to dress is also a social construction. As fashion is primarily considered a feminine concern (, it is through examples of the female gender identity that fashions influence can best be seen.

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  27. Cross dressing has been utilized by performers like comedian Barry Humphries, as a means of making a social statement. Humphries’ famous character Dame Edna Everage has become a popular entertainment figure. Through this character Humphries is able to explore and parody the construction of femininity. Dame Edna is deliberately extreme in her appearance, often wearing large ornate glasses and purple hair (Dame Edna The Official Site). She is an example of exaggerated femininity which borders on the grotesque. She is a loaded signifier, with her purple hair and extremely costume like clothes she is the epitome of gender as construction and denaturalises the idea that there is a natural gendered state. Such parody is not limited to cross dressing however, it can also be revealed through strategically designed garments like the Jean Paul Gaultier corset which Madonna famously wore.

  28. nfl jerseys outlet 说到:

    Madonna has been a ’sex symbol’ for decades, with her streamlined, slim, healthy body and attractive blonde image conforming to the feminine ideal. She has become a loaded sign in herself. In this way, when she makes the corset visible it becomes fetishised. The revealing of undergarments is already a sexual image, but by coupling it with a sexual body this effect is enhanced (Lurie, 1992, p6). She also does not appear uncomfortable in the garment, and can move easily about the stage, thus indicating that if one conforms to this stereotype then they will achieve some element of freedom. Similarly the cone shaped breasts become objects of sexual desire by drawing attention to her breasts in a non maternal light, making them the most eye catching thing about the entire garment. The costume is completed with fish net stockings, an item which conjures images of promiscuous women. To add to this her hair is tied up in a style reminiscent of Barbra Eden’s in I Dream of Jeannie, in which Jeannie calls Major Nelson (played by Larry Hagman) ‘Master’ (I Dream of Jeannie, 1965 1970). This combination of signifiers serves to reinforce the feminine stereotype through Jean Paul Gaultier’s corset, rather than subverting the feminine ideal. In this costume Madonna becomes the fetishised subject of the male gaze. The duality of the garment is a clear indicator of the various ways in which fashion and dress can be read, as well as the way it ultimately still supports the constructed female gender identity despite trying to subvert it. It also shows that the reading of fashion can be influenced by the body and any pre existing signs which a garment or image may refer to. At times these references are clearly apparent.

  29. Fashion can certainly be used to parody, subvert and deconstruct gender identities (particularly the feminine), however, in the mainstream, it can only ever reflect the social conscious behind it. If society is not ready for men to wear skirts, then skirts will not be bought by the majority of men. Whilst designers like Jean Paul Gaultier can attempt to deconstruct gender stereotypes through fashion, many of these subversions can still be read as supporting the distinction between gender identities. Fashion and dress is influenced by both the body itself and the range of signs that it refers to, making it difficult to determine where fashion ends and social consciousness begins.

  30. Madonna has been a ’sex symbol’ for decades, with her streamlined, slim, healthy body and attractive blonde image conforming to the feminine ideal. She has become a loaded sign in herself. In this way, when she makes the corset visible it becomes fetishised. The revealing of undergarments is already a sexual image, but by coupling it with a sexual body this effect is enhanced (Lurie, 1992, p6). She also does not appear uncomfortable in the garment, and can move easily about the stage, thus indicating that if one conforms to this stereotype then they will achieve some element of freedom. Similarly the cone shaped breasts become objects of sexual desire by drawing attention to her breasts in a non maternal light, making them the most eye catching thing about the entire garment. The costume is completed with fish net stockings, an item which conjures images of promiscuous women. To add to this her hair is tied up in a style reminiscent of Barbra Eden’s in I Dream of Jeannie, in which Jeannie calls Major Nelson (played by Larry Hagman) ‘Master’ (I Dream of Jeannie, 1965 1970). This combination of signifiers serves to reinforce the feminine stereotype through Jean Paul Gaultier’s corset, rather than subverting the feminine ideal. In this costume Madonna becomes the fetishised subject of the male gaze. The duality of the garment is a clear indicator of the various ways in which fashion and dress can be read, as well as the way it ultimately still supports the constructed female gender identity despite trying to subvert it. It also shows that the reading of fashion can be influenced by the body and any pre existing signs which a garment or image may refer to. At times these references are clearly apparent.

  31. High heeled shoes, like the corset, are an example of fashion supporting the female gender identity by constricting and binding women. The narrow toed high heel shoe that has been so popular in recent years, forces the foot and ankle into an unnatural position, as well as restricting the toes. The heel places the foot at an angle, making the legs look longer and more elegant and drawing attention to the ankle (which has long been associated with physical attraction) (Lurie, 1992, p227). This angle also forces the woman to ’strut’ to some extent in order to walk. The unnatural position inevitably makes standing and walking for any length of time painful as well as making running at any speed an impossibility. Any woman in heels attempting to outrun a man is certain to fail, thus reaffirming mans position of dominance. Yet high heeled shoes are extremely popular and are considered quite stylish, even being worn with jeans (Lurie, 1992, p227). This example in particular highlights femininity as a construction being based on appearance not physical ability. The appearance of a long leg is considered superior to being able to actually utilize it. This unhealthy focus on women’s appearance rather than their physical ability and health has been perpetrated by the fashion industry for decades. One of the dominant messages that fashion conveys is that women should be thin (Macdonald, 1995, p201).