Professor Christiansen teaches theory, culture, and design courses in the Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design Department. Her background and research interests involve the history and anthropology of clothing and textiles, and the socio-psychological interpretation of textiles and apparel in different cultures. As a former Hoosier undergraduate who struggled to adjust to the "new-found freedom" of freshman year (and worked for three years to reverse its effect on the GPA), she is familiar with the unique needs and qualities of IU students.
Courses
Funk and Pharaohs: Communicating Culture through Dress
In this course, dress and appearance are presented as a visual vocabulary used to explore the communication of identity, ethnicity, values, social status and group affiliation throughout history and today. Readings and various campus resources, such as the IU Art Museum, opera/stage costume, a historic clothing collection, and a museum of cultural artifacts will be combined to teach students about the role clothing and appearance have played throughout time. Readings and lectures will cover topics extending from the history of clothing and original theories on why people wear clothes, to thoughts about why people wear what we do, and how the psyche and society affect fashion adoption and change. The course will also encourage discussion of appearance perceptions that lead to the development of stereotypes, prejudice, and ethnocentricity. In general we will use the concept of dress and related disciplines as vehicles for learning the academic tools necessary for a successful college career.
During the course of the seminar, students will be asked in group discussions and written assignments to evaluate their current perceptions of other cultures/subcultures, from both the past and today, and compare them to others' through the critical and analytical study of art, drama, costumes, fashion, and material culture. They will begin to develop critical writing skills, and gain an early understanding of how to read and respond to research and writing at the college level using library and campus resources.
This course is appropriate for anyone hoping to study design, fine arts, theater, history, or sociology, especially with an interest in dress and appearance. Students will emerge as more open-minded, independent, critical thinkers with the tools to be successful in the first year of school. This course meets the TOPICS requirement for any student seeking a degree through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Back to Course List
