Educational Program:
The Effects of Internet Trends on Cultural Dress - External, School and Instruction Use
Overview:
Over the generations, the ways in which people dress and adorn themselves have been greatly affected by what society considers to be "in fashion". As various societies and cultures have become more interconnected, the definition of what is and is not fashionable has also become enmeshed. In the modern Internet age, it has only become easier for fashion trends to take over and become synonymous with smaller cultures.
For the purpose of this lesson, students will be researching the cultural fad of wearing comical, oversized earrings within the Queer community. In doing so, they will consider the effects of trends on their own personal style.
Grade Level:
Ninth - Twelfth Grade Level
Primary Learning Objectives:
Students will recognize the relationship between the internet and fashion.
Students will analyze social media posts for cultural markers.
Students will summarize their findings in a brief paper.
Materials needed:
Computer with internet access, pencils, plain paper
Procedure:
Teacher should have at least two social media examples prepared to demonstrate the idea to the class.
Teacher will lead students in a discussion on how the social media posts affected them. Specific attention should be paid to whether the students felt urged to follow the trend.
Students will then be divided into groups of at least two but no more than four. As a group, they will be tasked with locating one social media post that depicts the cultural fad of large, comical earrings within the Queer community. Students should be given at least fifteen minutes to complete the task.
Each group should briefly present their social media post to the class.
Once presentations are complete, engage in a student-led discussion on why they believe this trend developed and how the internet affected how widespread it was able to become.
Have students complete a minimum one page paper on what they have learned about the effects of internet fads on cultural dress either individually or as a group.
Assessment:
Students should be assessed on their ability to analyze all presented social media posts and their final reflections.
Extension:
Have students create a fashion fad and plan a social media post intended to promote it.
Resources:
The Queer Blogger: Interrogating the Commodification of Identities by Anne Lacy
Is TikTok Evolving Fashion? by Elaina Williams
TikTok: A fashion marketing monster by Olivia Mouradian
Educational Program:
Design Your Own: Dangle Earrings - Internal
Overview:
The designs and trends regarding earrings are as ever-changing as any other style trend. As personal style evolves and changes, the wants and needs for additional adornment change. Sometimes finding that perfect match just is not possible, and you have to take matters into your own hands. This program will teach you how to design and create an earring that is suited for you!
Age Group:
Teen to Adult
Materials needed:
Earring Hooks, Chains, Decorative Beads, Assorted Small Items, and Jewelry Pliers
Procedure:
Participants should be shown examples of dangle earrings. A discussion on what constitutes a dangle earring and what does not should be held.
An example will be presented. Leader will guide users through the brief creation of a single earring with the related tools.
Participants will design earrings based on the available materials.
Participants will create a pair of earrings based on their design.