Feathers & Fashion: I'd be interested in knowing more about the use of feathers in fashion across cultures and time

[ingrid pruss]

I have noticed that throughout literature and art as well as popular culture, women have been associated with birds in many ways. No one ever tells a guy he eats like a bird!  Even in recent ads for Campari, for example, there is a fairy-like female coming out of an unlocked gilded cage. Similarly, in fashion and theater, particularly in the Follies, women have been known to wear excessive amounts of feathers, whether it be in boas, ostrich-plumed hats, etc.  I was wondering about any thematic and gendered meanings you might find important about the use and association of feathers with women, in particular.

 

( I know men have used feathers too but not to the extent to which they have been used in female fashion)

[Ryan Goble]

Well, I don't know a ton about this but I found two interesting articles to get the discussion started:
A history of style: the feather
FASHION MASOCHIST: FEATHERS

[Ryan Goble]

I also know the Met in NYC does a special tour for educators on Birds in Art - you'd want to call their education department to ask about it - I did however find this interesting essay about birds in fourteenth-century art....

[ingrid pruss]

Thanks so much Ryan. Those are great articles! I love the history,especially.

What about sirens in mythology??

Also Miro's art http://www.abcgallery.com/M/miro/miro65.html

Why the association between women and birds?????? What connects them???

[kristine marane gongora]

Your question gets at the center of the founding of the Audubon society, from a concerned group of women who felt that that the hunting of birds for their plumage was not fashionable.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/01/hummingbirds/did-you-know...

http://www.audubon.org/centennial/


(Interesting, too, that it's typically the male birds that have the bright and showy plumage cf. the iridescent peacock, vs the duller plumed peahen, or even the bright red male cardinal vs the more muted female. Amazing the lengths that different species will go to in order to attract a mate! )

[Ryan Goble]

OMG Kristine - that is completely fascinating! Thanks for sharing...

[ingrid pruss]

Thank you! I never knew this. I appreciate your sharing a lot.

There is something that bothers me on a symbolic or metaphorical level , that I can't quite put my finger on, about women being clothed in feathers. I wish I could articulate it. It just feels uncomplimentary in some way despite its prior aristocratic association, and now its association with needless violence and needless hunting, i.e., not even for food or necessity.

[Ryan Goble]

Not to mention "bird watching" which is the inference I alway get from the reference. Additionally "the caged bird" is often used as a dramatic metaphor for women in controlling relationships. I think you have a lot of examples across time and pop culture that students could certainly explore and come to their own conclusions about, eh?

I know I put this in the broadcast, but I thought it would be worth adding to the archived discussion - great places for students to look for this at include:

The womanizing Michael Caine in the original Alfie (1966) referring to all the "birds" he dated, the teens in the BBC sitcom "The Inbetweeners" calling women "right fit birds" and of course the film and new broadway revival "Bye Bye Birdie." Lots of complex associations between the feminine and avian to explore...

[ingrid pruss]

Wow! I had not thought of these. Thank you. You amaze me. Your knowledge base is phenomenal; truly impressive!

Also, Doll's House and Hedda Gabler; I'm trying to think of other classical lit works where birds and women are associated; any ideas?

Kindly explain what you are saying about the archives. I am not familiar with them. Thanks. Have a good night, Ryan. You rock!

[Anne Gaspers]

And then there is this from the Media That Matters Film Festival

[Ryan Goble]

Anne - which film - the urls only take us to the festival not the specific short (done this one a lot)..

this page gives us individual film urls: http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/films

RRG:)

[Melissa L]

The first thing I thought of was Evan Lysacek's Olympic short program costume, which was designed by Vera Wang and adorned with feathers on the wrists. She said the feathers were influenced by his music - he skated to "firebird."
Do a google search for a good picture and a lot of statements about "gender bending." Apparently, "Firebird" is typically music used in the ladies division.

Costumes a pretty significant in figure skating - judging has some aspect of subjectivity, so Lysacek was taking a risk there,and now a lot of sites are crediting Wang with helping contribute to his win....which I find odd, but whatever.

Oh, and I knew the Vera Wang story because the Today Show covered it during Olympic week. You might be able to find the clip out there somewhere. They show them working on the design together.

[Ryan Goble]

Oh, Melissa, that made me think of a certain Icelandic musical goddess circa the 2001 Oscars..