Glamour

Klappentext In this lavishly illustrated book, author Carol Dyhouse surveys the world of glamour from early Hollywood right up to Madonna. She deftly unpacks the ever-changing nature of the word, its relationship to femininity and fashion, and its place in twentieth century social history. With wit and insight, Dyhouse conducts a dazzling tour of the history and meaning of costume, cosmetics, perfume, and fur; and disentangles some of the arguments surrounding femininity, appearance and power; and directly addresses feminist concerns. As Dyhouse shows with style and flair, glamour as an expression of desire and entitlement in women can't simply be dismissed as an oppressive, or subjective male fantasy, but carries celebratory and liberating meanings for women. Zusammenfassung This book explores the changing meanings of glamour, its relationship to femininity and fashion, and its place in twentieth century social history. It also examines with wit and insight the history and meaning of costume, cosmetics, perfume and fur.

Riveting - from perfume to sexual politics and the precise definition of "It", Dyhouse gives us an entertaining and innovative analysis of a topic that, while hitherto underexplored, has a huge impact on all our lives.

Vorwort
This book explores the changing meanings of glamour, its relationship to femininity and fashion, and its place in twentieth century social history. It also examines with wit and insight the history and meaning of costume, cosmetics, perfume and fur.

Autorentext
Carol Dyhouse is a social historian. Her research has focused on gender, education and the pattern of women's lives in nineteenth and twentieth century Britain. Her books include Girls Growing Up in late Victorian and Edwardian England (1981); Feminism and the Family in England, 1890-1939, (1989); No Distinction of Sex? Women in British Universities (1995); and Students: A Gendered History (2006). An interest in clothing and material culture, and the ways in which these relate to changing ideas about femininity, led to work on the subject of glamour, its controversial status within feminism, and its meanings to women in history. Carol Dyhouse is currently a Research Professor in History at the University of Sussex.

Klappentext

How do we understand glamour? Has it empowered women or turned them into objects? Once associated with modernity and the cutting edge, is it entirely bound up with nostalgia and tradition?

This unique and fascinating book tells the story of glamour. It explores the changing meanings of the word, its relationship to femininity and fashion, and its place in twentieth century social history. Using a rich variety of sources - from women's magazines and film to social surveys and life histories - Carol Dyhouse examines with wit and insight the history and meaning of costume, cosmetics, perfume and fur.

Dyhouse disentangles some of the arguments surrounding femininity, appearance and power, directly addressing feminist concerns. The book explores historical contexts in which glamour served as an expression of desire in women and an assertion of entitlement to the pleasures of affluence, finally arguing that glamour can't simply be dismissed as oppressive, or as male fantasy, but can carry celebratory meanings for women.

Inhalt

Introduction

1. The Origins of Glamour: Demi-Monde, Modernity, 'It'
2. Hollywood Glamour
3. Dreams, Desires and Spending
4. Princesses, Tarts and Cheesecake
5. Revolutions
6. Glamazons, Grunge and Bling
7. Perspectives and Reflections: Glamour for All?
   Notes
   Bibliography
   Acknowledgements, Picture Credits
   Index