COURSE NUMBER/TITLE:
Aspects of Dress
FCS 5240 Socio-psychological
SEMESTER
Fall 2006
CREDIT HOURS: 3 Hours (graduate)
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Marlene R. Breu
Professor
3408 Kohrman Hall
Office: (269) 387-3434
E-mail: m.breu@wmich.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
appointment
Wednesday 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Thursday 2:00-3:00, and by
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Study of dress and adornment in human interaction.
Considers the body in social and cultural contexts, dress in various stages of human
development and in individual and group behavior. Uses an interdisciplinary approach to
dress-related research.
REQUIRED TEXT: Damhorst, M.L., Miller-Spillman, K.A., & Michelman, S.O.
(2005). The Meanings of Dress (2nd Ed.). New York: Fairchild
PROGRAM GOALS:
1. To help students understand that dress is a form of communication
2. To facilitate the student’s ability to analyze dress as a communication system
3. To help students develop a framework for interpreting the meanings and uses of dress
4. To introduce students to dress-related research in a variety of disciplines
5. To introduce students to the concept of dress as an approach to the understanding of
human development and behavior
6. To facilitate the student’s development of oral and written skills
7. To develop the student’s skills in reviewing literature and writing literature-review
papers
8. To give students experience with the research process
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION:
The following evaluation procedures will be used for activities conducted during the
course:
ACTIVITY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
POSSIBLE POINTS
Annotated bibliography . . . 1 @ 25 pts. each. . . . . . . . . . . .25 points
Research paper/seminar . . . . . . . . . . . …. . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 points
Individual research experience…………… . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 points
Mid-term exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 points
Series of in- and out-of-class assignments & quizzes . . . . . 150 points (approximate)
GRADE
A
BA
4.0 (93%)
3.5 (88%)
B
CB
3.0 (80%)
2.5 (75%)
C
DC
2.0 (70%)
1.5 (65%)
D 1.0 (60%)
E Failing
OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. All assignments must be typed or word-processed and prepared according to criteria
provided. This includes using #12 font size for all work.
2. Grading criteria sheets must be attached to all assignments before a grade will be
assigned.
3. Annotated bibliographies that come from sources other than research journals will not
be graded. Ungraded bibliographies may be re-submitted one time and will be
accepted up to the next class period. No bibliographies will be accepted after that
date. Readings from the text are not accepted for annotated bibliographies (but may
be used for the review of literature paper).
4. Assignments are due on the date indicated. No late assignments will be accepted
beyond one week after the due date. A 50 percent penalty will be assessed against the
maximum possible points for each late assignment handed in after the due date.
5. Each class meeting is the equivalent of one full week of class. Classroom
discussions, instructional activities, in-class assignments, and media presentations are
more valuable if each student is present to contribute; furthermore, they are
impossible to make up. Your presence is significant; therefore, you are encouraged to
attend all class meetings.
5. In-class assignments may not be made up if you miss them. In-class assignments
will be returned with a score marked on the sheet. KEEP ALL RETURNED WORK
as documentation until the course has ended. If you dispute the grade as recorded,
you MUST show documentation. If you believe that the instructor has failed to return
your paper, it is your responsibility to ask for it at the time that the assignment is
returned.
6. Students are required to make an oral PowerPoint presentation on their review of
literature paper. Random assignments will be made to determine the day and time of
presentations. Students who choose not to present on the assigned day will forfeit the
opportunity. Requests to move to a different day will be denied, unless the student
can trade times with another student or a slot becomes available.
7. Any unexcused absence from an exam will prevent the opportunity to take the exam at
a time different from that scheduled. In this case, the student will receive a failing
grade on the exam.
8. Final grade is contingent on the return of all loaned books, materials, and meeting any
in-class financial obligations.
9. If you need to be excused for a religious holiday, you are required by university
policy to let me know at least two weeks ahead of your absence.
STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC HONESTY:
You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and
procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog (pp.274-276) or Graduate Catalog (pp. 25-27)
that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication,
falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer
misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you
will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to
review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the
opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an
issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
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If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact the office of
Disabled Student Resources and Services at 387-2166; http://www.dsrs.wmich.edu.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
The course schedule is subject to change.
DATE
CLASS
Sept. 5
1
Sept. 12
2
Sept. 19
3
TOPIC
Introduction to the course; Discussion of concepts and
theories in Chapter 1; Definition of Dress
Classification system for dress; In-class assignment
Video: The Woman Who Wanted to be Barbie
Presentation by Dennis Strasser on literature searches
Explanation of Review of Literature Paper; CLASS WILL
MEET IN ROOM 3307 SANGREN HALL
The Body in Cultural Context; Cultural standards of dress;
Cultural ideals of dress in the U.S. Media images and the
ideal. Discussion of readings; View video: African dress;
In-class assignment
Reading research papers and preparing an annotated
bibliography.
Name of journals for annotated bibliographies due
ASSIGNED
CHAPTERS
1
1,2
Readings
2,4,5,6
Sept. 26
4
Oct. 3
5
Oct 10
6
Oct. 17
7
Oct. 24
8
Oct. 31
9
Nov. 7
10
Nov. 14
11
Nov. 21
Nov. 28
Dec. 5
Dec. 12
Dress as Non-Verbal Communication
Discussion of Non-Verbal Communication; Discuss
readings
View Video: The Secret Life of Geisha
Dress and Relationships; Natural and Applied Body Scents
as Mediators in the Socio-cultural Environment; Discuss
readings. View Video: The Sense of Smell
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES DUE
Appearance for Gender and Sexuality;
Group discussion on readings; View Video: Crossdressing;
Discussion of review of literature paper
MIDTERM EXAM. Preparation sheet for exam will be
distributed on Oct. 16th
3
Readings
10,11,12,14,15
4
Readings
17,19,21,22
5
Readings
24,26,27,30
Modesty and Immodesty; Discussion of readings
View Video: Dress, Gender, and the Public Display of
Skin
Discuss review of literature papers and title pages; discuss
Halloween assignment
Race and Ethnicity; Discussion of readings and review of
literature papers
TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT AND REFERENCE LIST
FOR REVIEW OF LITERATURE PAPER DUE;
Halloween assignment and in-class activity; sign up for
presentations
6
Readings 31,37
Fashion as Social Process; View Video: The Way We Wear
Explanation of Individual Research Experience
Individual Research Experience: Dressing Out of Context
Text, pages 78-79
12
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE DUE BY 5
P.M. IN FCS OFFICE
Dress and World Religions
View Videos: A Veiled Revolution and Beyond the Veil
12
Readings
75,78,79,
Breu/Marchese article in
course pack
13
14
15
Seminar: Student Presentations
Seminar: Student Presentations
Seminar: Student Presentations
SCHEDULED EXAM TIME Tuesday 5:00-7:00 p.m.
10
Readings
61,62,63,65
11
Readings
66,67,70