Unit 2a - Imitation-Differentiation Perspective

Discussion

Once you have completed the readings for this Unit, address Questions #1 and #4 on the Blackboard Discussion Board and address all questions in your Course Journal. To participate in the Discussion Board, follow these steps:

• Click on Blackboard's Discussion Board and scroll down to find, read, and participate in this week's Forum.
• Click on the Forum title for this week (Unit 2 a - Imitation-Differentiation Perspective).
• Add a new response/thread to this Forum. Please post your initial response/thread by Wednesday, January 21. Read and respond to posted threads by Saturday, January 24. In responding to posted threads you may want to build on their comments with your own experiences and expertise or address the following questions: Do you agree or disagree with others' statements? Why?
• I will assess your contributions on their relevance, thoughtfulness, and degree to which they reflect an engagement with the reading.

Discussion Questions

1. Why are Simmel's premises typically referred to as the "trickle down" theory of fashion?
2. According to Simmel, what is meant by the "dualistic nature of man"? How does fashion satisfy this dualistic nature?
3. According to Simmel, what two social tendencies are essential to the establishment of fashion? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. Is the Imitation-Differentiation perspective ("trickle down" theory) of fashion obsolete? Why? What concepts/generalizations from Simmel's work are still relevant to our understanding of fashion today?