Final Project => Thesis (Update)

Ashley Parkin

Background InfoMichael Knight: Too “Sean John”

Background InfoQuote Diddy:

“We've stepped out of that urban, hip-hop box that people tried to put us in, in the beginning," he said. "Our clothing is bought by all colors, all races. We live in a new America where that style of thinking is almost ancient right now — that because the designer is black that his clothes are black. Things have evolved and this is a true testament to that. Christian Louboutin is black, but that doesn't mean his shoes are black. I'm black but my clothes are for everybody.”

New York Magazine, 5/5/10

Background Info

French Vogue, October 2009 L’Officiel Hommes, March-April 2010

Black is Beautiful!

Background Info

Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2009 Collection

Dior’s Spring 2008 Collection

Africa: “Tribal” and “Ethnic” Chic

Background info (updated)

Essence magazine caused some controversyover the summer by hiring Ellianna Placas, a white woman, to be their fashion director at themagazine.

One of their former editors, Michaela AngelaDavis, made her disappointment over thedecision known through her Facebook andTwitter accounts, and that’s when the race conversation grew over the Internet.

Project Questions1. Can the Web be used as a medium in itself

for creating fine art with something to ask/say?

2. Why is a group’s culture and aesthetic easier to accept than the people responsible for creating them in the first place?

3. Do they think it’s convenient to put on and take off whenever it suits them?

4. Is a conversation on race and racism still important to conduct?

Thesis IdeaCreate a satirical fashion line and present it on

the Web with its own site, with some interactive play pieces to emphasize the brand.

The name of the fashion line is Noco; it is a play on the derogatory word “coon.”

Domain name: thebarracoos.com“Coon” is possibly derived from the Portuguese

word “barracoos,” which was the name of a building that used to house slaves ready for sale (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=coon)

Final Project: Croquis LookbookAccording to one of the advisors from the Parsons

Fashion School, Priscilla Holcomb, a fashion designer creates a croquis lookbook as the building block/prototype for his or her collection

It contains an “inspiration collage” of images that the designer extracts ideas from for the collection

Second, a “mood board” of fabric swatches and embellishment samples that might or will be used in making it

Third, a collection of sketches depicting the collection, called “croquis.”

Precedents (updated)Damali Ayo’s Rent-A-Negro.comJonah Peretti’s BlackPeopleLoveUs.comForgetMeNotPanties.comPatrick Kelly, fashion designer

(http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/patrick_kelly/)

JetBlue Airlines’ “The Flyers Collection” ad campaign

Betye Saar’s “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima” (http://www.netropolitan.org/saar/auntjemima.html)

Additional Components (Thesis)1. Interactive Play Blueprint2. Web Site Mockups

1. Interactive Play PieceMade with AS3, it will letusers assemble their own “negro” with pre-designedpuzzle pieces containingbasic stereotypes of both black men and women.

My ambition is to have users’creations be shared on aspecial Facebook fan page and profile that I will be making for this “company.”

2. Web Site MockUps

Homepage

2. Web Site MockUps

About Noco: Our History

2. Web Site MockUps

About Noco: Our Videos

2. Web Site MockUps

About Noco: Our Videos -> single video

2. Web Site MockUps

The Collection: homepage

2. Web Site MockUps

The Collection: section layout

2. Web Site MockUps

Contact Info

2. Web Site MockUps

Site Map

2. Web Site MockUps

Legal Notice (explanation of thesis project)

2. Web Site MockUps

Copyright (list of sources used for thesis project)

What I Did This SummerEngage in various sewing and crafting

projects to improve my sewing skills and gain new fabric decorating techniques

Put together some corporate ID for the company

Documented all of it for the 10 Projects summer assignment

Link to Projects Album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=487005&id=534535234&l=94e75d0f0d

My Agenda for FallRefine and edit my fashion line ideas and web

site mock-ups through professor mentorshipKeep learning and improving my craft and

web design skillsFine tune my intentions and message within

this art piece by discussing the concept with friends and collegues

ConclusionThis is the end of the slideshow.

Discuss!