Reflections on ALES204

I really did not know what to expect from ALES204. I knew it was about communication, but I had no idea that it would encompass so many resources for such a variety of media types. From sound files being shared with AudioBoo to uploading images with Flickr, I realized that there are so many opportunities to interact with people all over the world personally and professionally.

Source: http://slrhs.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/mid-year-exams-graduation-2012-and-communication/

Before the class, my social media exploration was limited to Facebook. I really like using it because it gives me the opportunity to get in touch with friends from other cities in Canada and around the world; to easily plan and coordinate events; and to let my friends know what was going on in my life while keeping up with them. I was skeptical at first when I started using Twitter for ALES204. I did not really understand the point of 'following' strangers and allowing them to 'follow' me. But as I used it more often, I began to value how easy it was to learn about what was going on in the world and how quickly information became accessible. With Twitter trends, I became aware of how one topic could have so many perspectives, whether it was concerning a relatively superficial topic such as Justin Bieber's hair or more politically and socially controversial movements like the Kony 2012 campaign by Invisible children. I also learned about events and exhibits going on around the world concerning my areas of interest.

While I appreciated learning about different outlets of communication and connectivity on the internet, I was also concerned about putting my information out there, where anyone could see it. I understand that pretty much all website offer privacy settings, but it still made me uncomfortable to sign up for so many different websites that asked for my personal information. I think it is strange that someone could google my name and find out information about me without my knowledge. With identity theft being a big issue, I tried to be careful about how much information I displayed. For example, I used a fake name and invented information for my Facebook page rather than posting my actual contact information.

I did not know that this course would also teach me about topics such as professionalism. I valued lessons about this the most because I felt that I could apply skills such as writing a well-planned CV and presenting a   PowerPoint that wasn't dull to the audience the most in my future. The lectures concerning Pecha Kucha presentations were very beneficial because they opened my eyes to a new method of introducing information in a way that kept viewers attentive and interested. The lectures that focused on how to read efficiently and how to write scientific articles were very useful because they were things that I struggled with. Equipped with tips on how to better handle these topics, I feel more confident in handling my future years in university.

Brittany Stewart has another perspective on the ALES204 class which you can check out here.

My blog comments can be found in the links below:
Shannon Fox
Brittany Stewart
Marisa Salon
Rima Tabet
Becky Shapka

Thank you to Dr. Jessica Laccetti and Bibaswan Ghoshal for a very informative semester.

Costumes

Over the past two years of university, I have learned a lot both in and out of the classroom. Over the past two years, I have also watched a lot of movies, videos, and television shows. I have noticed that while watching movies, I spend more time analyzing what the actors or characters are wearing, rather than what they are saying or doing. Through the years, my perceptions of what the characters are wearing has changed. At first, it was a secondary aspect to the person's personality and role in the story plot. As time passed, I started relating what I was learning to the media I was exposed to. Classes such as Material Culture (HECOL 201) and Historic Costume (HECOL 268) gave me a more well-rounded perspective to the motives behind why certain characters were portrayed in certain ways. I began to realize that costumes were, at times, more important than what the character did. Costumes have silent roles that give the viewers insight into who the person is before anything is said.

 I love that costumes can be used as icons. For example, think of the Disney princess Snow White. You are probably picturing her in the dress below. Or how about Judy Garland's gingham dress in the Wizard of Oz? Perhaps you always picture Sheldon Cooper in a particular graphic tee or Howard Wolowitz in colourful skinny jeans. Costumes make a character memorable in the viewers' minds. The association becomes inseparable. 

Rabu. Snow White Costume Dress. 2011. Graphic. Blogger .
 Retrieved  April 13, 2012.
http://snow-white-costume-cheap.blogspot.ca/2011/11/snow-white-costume-dress_02.html   

The course about Material Culture showed me new ways to consider how the garments and accessories the person was wearing related to their context. It showed me how effect costumes can be beyond simply the stereotypical black representing evil and white representing purity. For example, certain details such as jewelry help the viewer identify status, age, and gender in a single glance. Historic Costume was another influential course in my movie-watching. In time-travelling movies such as Back to the Future, I found myself looking at how costume designers chose to portray certain decades and how they gave cues to what the time period was without it being explicitly stated. It also gave me a more informed perspective on historical accuracy and how the costume designers could have manipulated the costumes to make them appear more aesthetically pleasing for the viewers in modern times. To use one story as an example, the costumes in the movie A Room With a View were interpreted in very different ways when comparing the 1985 film with its 2006 counterpart. While both movies portray Edwardian fashion, the 1985 film used silhouettes that included strong shoulders, similar to power suits worn at the time that included shoulder pads, whereas the 2006 film decided to forego the shoulder pads, in keeping with the modern aesthetic.

I also began to apply the idea of costume to everyday life. People use their apparel to portray themselves in a certain way. Costumes are also ideal as disguises. As with films, people use their garments to camouflage themselves within society. Because my degree in university is centered around clothing and textiles, I find this exploration between character and costume very interesting. If you would like to learn more about costume design for films, a very important person to learn about would be Edith Head. You can learn more about her here. A classmate of mine is also interested in historic costume and I read a great article about a garment called the 'justacorps' that she wrote. You can check her blog out here to find out more.

Writing a Wikipedia Article

I've written a Wikipedia article for the first time. To be honest, at first, I found the task a little daunting. I think the key to starting is to pick a topic that you can either relate to or find  interesting. I selected the stub 'Thrift Store Chic.' I thought the topic was interesting because it concerned a very specific type of dressing that had not been elaborated upon in detail. I began by reading all the information that already existed in the entry in order to have a good idea of where the article needed more information, or what related topics contributed to the definition of 'thrift store chic.' After, I began looking for peer-reviewed articles in the Academic Search Complete Database. After realizing that my topic was a rather narrow one with very limited research done, I started to look for indirect ways of locating useful information by searching people who may have been influential to the style movement, such as Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain. Researching the types of clothes he and other grunge artists wore and popularizes helped me understand what they wore and what it symbolized to them. Another alternative approach looking at social connotations and perceptions of wearing used clothing. Newspaper articles were especially useful in my research. They provided useful insights on clothing and social trends. I also referred to a textbook, Survey of Historic Costume by Phyllis G. Tortora and Keith Eubank, in order to gain a better sense of what was going on socially at the time thrift store chic was influential. 

Once began writing, I pieced the information I had gathered from a variety of sources into a cohesive article that encompassed what 'thrift store chic' was all about. I found it interesting how this topic had different facets from grunge music to 80s movies (the example I referred to in the article is from Pretty in Pink). 

Source: This Day In Fashion: http://onthisdayinfashion.com/?p=11761

When my article finally reached a point I thought had good readability and concise and clear information, I began to insert my citations. At first, I felt completely confused. I thought the citations all went at the end, but after some trial-and-error and Google searching, I discovered a website that charted out exactly what to type in order to achieve desired results. The link is here, if you would like to check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources. While Wikipedia markup language is tricky at first, I felt fairly comfortable using it after the second citation. I believe I wouldn't mind taking the time later on to learn more about it and use different techniques. 

I find it funny that when I had submitted the article and it was up, online, for everyone to see, I felt a little attached to it. It's my mark on Wikipedia and I think it is interesting to know that someone, sometime in the future, will have to look up this topic and possibly read what I have compiled. To check out my article, you can click on this link: Thrift Store Chic. While I have been warned that Wikipedia is not a reliable source to use, I believe there are many articles that people have taken time to create and foster that are great resources to read when you would like to get informed on a topic casually. For example, my colleague and fellow human ecologist, Angela, has written a Wikipedia article titled "Life Course Approach." Here is a link to her blog: http://ales204humanecologystudent.blogspot.ca/. If you'd like to find a stub of your own to write about, or an article that needs to be supplemented in content and citations, this URL is a good starting point:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Stub_categories.

I have now created a brand new Facebook page devoted to sharing my experience, skills, and interests. You get to it through this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriella-Michaels/228596023893125?sk=info. This is a photo of what my Facebook photo looks like:

My colleague, Rheon, has also created new page and you can find her blog by using this link: http://fisher-r.blogspot.com/.

Facebook is a great networking tool that can help me coordinate meeting with friends and colleagues. Facebook keeps me updated with the latest news and events going on with people I know. With a personal Facebook page, I can showcase my professional capabilities for free. It is a simple way to make my information accessible to possible employers. It's kind of like an online business card personalized by me. A Facebook page is a simple and fast way to get your name out there. It can also be a great method to finding other people in a field similar to mine, and getting in contact with them. By creating a Facebook page, I can also showcase my writing and ability to utilize technology.

To find some great tips about creating your own Facebook page, you can check out what Janet Fouts, a social media coach, has to say about it at http://janetfouts.com/build-your-own-facebook-page/.

All About Me

Hello; My name is Carol and I am a student at the University of Alberta. Right now, I'm a second-year Clothing and Textiles major, with a minor in Product Development. I think I've always been interested in textiles and design. I like playing around with colour and shapes and so it felt natural to apply them to textiles and clothing. I love learning about different cultures and the history of how clothing evolved within them. My field is really interdisciplinary because I have to study the biology of natural fibers and the chemistry of synthetic fibers. I also have to learn the material culture behind objects and sociology to learn about the people who use them, Because my field of study is applicable to pretty much anywhere in the world (because pretty much everyone uses textiles everyday), it's important to stay connected and informed on changing design concepts and trends, innovations in textile technology, and international events.

Communication is important because it allows us to connect with people all over the world, helping spread ideas and information. I also think communication is important because I have family in Portugal and Brazil and without things like email and long-distance calling, I'd rarely get a chance to talk to them and catch up. Communication also allows me to get in touch with other people in my field, such as Laura, who is in the same program as me. You can check out her blog at: http://coeurdebijoux.blogspot.com/. Communication and networking with people within my field will be pretty important not only for getting a job after graduation, but also for obtaining a great practicum experience. Communication also helps spread a message and gather support for great causes. For example, this past autumn, I was able to volunteer at the Fashion with Compassion event to help raise funds for Sorentino's Compassion House in Edmonton and raise awareness about breast cancer.  The only way I found out about it was through an email sent around the faculty. I love how quickly I was informed and got involved because of one little email.

 

(January 18, 2012; http://www.derksmenswear.com/blog/fashion-compassion-2011)

Sites like http://www.style.com/ are really helpful for catching up on industry news because they talk about everything from people who are successful and emerging artists and designers to the influences that art and politics, for example, can have on design inspiration. Because the fashion industry is ever-changing and very competitive, I find that staying informed on trends helps a designer not only discover new sources for creativity, but also keep from being too repetitive and similar to others in the field. I hope to learn more ways of communicating and getting informed.