HNC3O

Unit 1

Lecture 4: Culture and Customs

Objectives

Explain how clothing reflects culture Give examples of clothing symbols Discuss clothing customs and expectations in

the North American culture Describe appropriate outfits for certain

occasions

Clothing choices continued

What would you consider wearing the following events? Why?

Basketball game Party Wedding Grocery store Job interview

Share?

Have you ever felt inappropriately dressed for a particular occasion?

What was the occasion? What did you wear? How did you handle the situation? What did you learn from this mistake?

Clothing choices continued

How did you decide what to wear this morning? What factors influenced your decision?

What factors are considered when making our clothing decisions?

economy

Wealth

Practicality

Comfort

appearance

How can each influence clothing choices?

Which has the greatestInfluence?

?

Clothing Reflects Culture

Culture the collected ideas, skills, beliefs and institutions

of a society at a particular time in history

Food, entertainment, art religion, politics and technology – all are aspects of culture

Culture and Clothing

Every culture has something special and unique about its clothing

Fabric Design Colours

All tell us so much about the way people think and live

All part of a person’s story All part of a puzzle

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress - Sahara

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress - Bulgaria

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress - Peru

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress - Netherlands

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress - Japan

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress – Morocco

Traditional Dress examples

Traditional Dress – North American First Nations

National Costumes

Most national costumes had very practical beginnings

National Costumes continued

Cultural expression through ornamentation

Japanese kimono – ornate fabrics

Hungarian clothes – ornamental leather

Scandinavian clothing – embroidered designs

Native American garments – coloured beads

Global Trends

Today, many people wear similar clothing

Mass communication and global distribution of the latest fashions

Exceptions: Extreme climates Developing countries

Traditional clothing is now mostly worn for celebration

Clothing as a symbol

Clothing can tell you about a person’s heritage, occupation, role, gender, and values.

All part of that puzzle?

Symbol examples

White – innocence, faith and purity (N.A. wedding dress)

Red – joy and permanence (China wedding outfit)

Clothing as a symbol

Heritage Person’s cultural background and ethnic

traditions handed down from ancestors

Defines identity and produces pride Participation in ethnic festivals and holidays Shows where we are from Particular garments symbolize particular cultural

backgrounds – (Kimono - Japan, Sari – India)

Clothing as a symbol

Heritage continued

Clothing as a symbol

Occupation Articles of clothing and uniforms symbolize

and identify many professions

Clothing as a symbol

Roles Clothing identifies different roles – positions

people have in society

Clothing as a symbol

Gender Values - Views on modesty