Title
The Empire of Fashion,Used
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In a book full of playful irony and striking insights, the controversial social philosopher Gilles Lipovetsky draws on the history of fashion to demonstrate that the modern cult of appearance and superficiality actually serves the common good. Focusing on clothing, bodily deportment, sex roles, sexual practices, and political rhetoric as forms of 'fashion,' Lipovetsky bounds across two thousand years of history, showing how the evolution of fashion from an upperclass privilege into a vehicle of popular expression closely follows the rise of democratic values. Whereas Tocqueville feared that mass culture would create passive citizens incapable of political reasoning, Lipovetsky argues that today's massproduced fashion offers many choices, which in turn enable consumers to become complex individuals within a consolidated, democratically educated society.Superficiality fosters tolerance among different groups within a society, claims Lipovetsky. To analyze fashion's role in smoothing over social conflict, he abandons class analysis in favor of an inquiry into the symbolism of everyday life and the creation of ephemeral desire. Lipovetsky examines the malaise experienced by people who, because they can fulfill so many desires, lose their sense of identity. His conclusions raise disturbing questions about personal joy and anguish in modern democracy.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Empire of Fashion'? A: 'The Empire of Fashion' explores the evolution of fashion and its role in society, arguing that the modern cult of appearance serves the common good by promoting individual expression and tolerance.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'The Empire of Fashion' is Gilles Lipovetsky, a social philosopher known for his work on the impact of consumer culture and modernity.
- Q: What are the key features of this book? A: This book is a used hardcover in good condition, featuring 288 pages and is a first edition published on October 3, 1994.
- Q: What topics are covered in 'The Empire of Fashion'? A: The book covers topics such as clothing, bodily deportment, sex roles, and the political rhetoric surrounding fashion, analyzing their symbolism in everyday life.
- Q: Is this book suitable for anyone interested in fashion? A: 'The Empire of Fashion' is suitable for readers interested in the societal implications of fashion, democratic values, and cultural studies.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is listed as being in mint condition, ensuring a quality reading experience.
- Q: How does Lipovetsky view mass-produced fashion? A: Lipovetsky argues that mass-produced fashion offers consumers various choices, enabling them to become complex individuals within a democratic society.
- Q: What insights does the book provide about personal identity? A: The book discusses how the abundance of choices in modern fashion can lead to a loss of personal identity, raising questions about joy and anguish in contemporary democracy.
- Q: When was 'The Empire of Fashion' first published? A: 'The Empire of Fashion' was first published on October 3, 1994.
- Q: Can this book be considered a scholarly work? A: Yes, 'The Empire of Fashion' is considered a scholarly work as it provides in-depth analysis and critiques of fashion's role in society from a philosophical perspective.