Course Description: A senior-level seminar course. Students investigate a specialized topic or topics related to the fashion industry. Research, discussion, and weekly readings will culminate in a final paper and presentation. Themes vary each semester. This course is designed to provide an exploration of contemporary issues that designers, merchandisers, product developers, and consumers confront as they create, wear, and discard fashion. The course emphasizes, but is not limited to, topics such as sustainability, globalization, and ethics. The objective of the course is to develop a dialogue on practices in fashion with a sense of sustainability, ethics, and socially responsible manufacturing practices.

Professor: Denise H. Sutton, PhD

Syllabus:

Critical Analysis Paper 1:

Identify a beauty practice, ritual, and/or product that has been trending recently or that is commonly accepted and has historical roots not necessarily apparent to the consumer. The topic could also focus on a particular ingredient that has gained popularity in the beauty industry but that has a history of use not necessarily apparent to the consumer. Papers should be three to four pages in length, double spaced, and in APA format.

Critical Analysis Paper 2:

The beauty industry has been greatly influenced by science (especially chemistry, but also the field of medicine). In fact, some might argue that without scientific advances and innovation, the beauty industry wouldn’t be as large and influential. What are some of the scientific advances that allowed new product development in the industry? When did they occur and what was the outcome? What are some of the cutting-edge developments in beauty today? The paper should be three to four pages in length, double spaced, and in APA format.

Response to “Toxic Beauty”:

This assignment is about your response to the documentary fil Toxic Beauty, this paper should focus on your opinion and thoughts about the material covered in the film. Papers should be three to four pages in length, double spaced, and APA format.

Research Paper:

A case research analysis on inclusivity in beauty, papers should be 10 pages in length and in APA format.