+Class Trend Presentations

Fara Warner—surprise Trend: Binge Drinking

Marie Bahoora

Katherine Benjamin

+

Marriage and Relationship TrendsJan. 25, 2010

+Read

Read the two articles from the New York Times on relationship and marriage trends.

As you read consider the topics and philosophies discussed in “Anatomy of a Trend.”

Write down three comments that marry—pun intended—these two articles with the concepts in “Anatomy of a Trend.”

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 1

Intuition?

Is there a science to trends that can be learned?

What is a trend? A process of change that comes about because of product

development that results in new products. But what causes the change? That is the question.

Is factual data important in a trend? (Remember this—we will keep coming back to it over and over again.)

Who are the trendsetters in your celebrity/marriage trends?

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 1

What’s the difference between Jackie Kennedy and Swedish furniture? Short term vs. long term How did one museum retrospective (40 years after Jackie

was the First Lady) create a short-term trend? We will call a short-term trend—a fad, a craze, a mania—a

CROC in this class.

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 1

Discuss the minimalist trend Who are the trendsetters? What keys are there to a trend being more than a fad in the

“minimalist” trend? Is a new trend simply a decision to “do something

different?” What was the “simmering process” that was happening?

Define the “simmering process”

Based on the graph on page 21—what would be the defining trend in fashion in the first decade of the 21st century?

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 1

The hierarchy of needs. Pg. 23

Difference between trends and “major social change.”

Do megatrends matter? Can they affect trends? Why do we need to look for a change in human behavior to

become adept trendspotters?

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 2

Trend creators vs. Trend setters difference between Roseanne Barr and Ellen DeGeneres The “mehndi” trend: who is the creator and who is the

trendsetter? What sets trendsetters apart from other people?

“I don’t care what other people think?”

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 2

Youth culture How did economics play a role in creating the youth culture

movement outlined in the book? Pg. 34 What economics are at play in the articles about women

and marriage? What role will economics play in your generation’s culture? How does where you live inspire the way you dress? Pg. 35

Hip hop Harajuku girls—the precursors to Lady Gaga?

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 2

Designers, artists, wealthy people, gay men, celebrities. People who aren’t afraid of being different or have no concern

that being different will ostracize them from the group. “But if everyone is doing it, it ain’t cool,” Charlie LeDuff—now a

journalist with the Detroit News about sporting a Mohawk at Burning Man—along with several thousand other people.

Who sets the style trends for your generation? So if gay men want to get married does that mean marriage will

have a resurgence? I mean, if gay men started the tattoo trend then who should we

be watching if you want to know what the next big trend is?

+Anatomy of a Trend: Chapter 2

Why are underground subcultures important? How do brands that you use use them? The Scion example. Why are polysocial groups important? Pg. 53 Do we live in a polysocial community or a monosocial

community in Ann Arbor?

+Learnings (and things to use as you ponder your own trends)

Trends are created by people—so be curious and watchful

Trends are always simmering below the surface before they become mainstream.

Trends that stretch across two or more industries are more likely to be an Ugg rather than a Croc.

Trends often are simply about doing something different from the mainstream.

+Learnings (and things to ponder as you consider your final projects) Watch for trend creators

Then watch for trendsetters

Can trend creators be manufactured?

+What film or television show defines relationship trends for your generation?

“Five Hundred Days of Summer.”

As we watch, take a few notes on what trends this movie defines for your generation?

One quick note: is it interesting that this is a film told through the eyes of man instead of the woman, the historically traditional teller of stories about relationships?

+For Wednesday

Chapter 3 in “Anatomy of a Trend.”

Read the article on the trend of Burberry, posted on the Facebook page.

We will discuss fashion trends.

Voting on what store we will go to analyze how retailers get us to shop and buy.