Author Archives: Joanne Ganthier

A piece showcased in the late Alexander McQueen's fashion exhibition at the Met.

In a world where fashion magazines are widely read and influence many individuals, it is clear fashion plays an intricate part in society. Further, fashion today has transcended into another level where it is now considered as art and the fashion designers as artists. Fashion designers create unique, beautiful and sometimes over the top clothing that redefines what fashion is. Often times pushing the limits of the fashion world. One famous designer that comes to mind is the legendary Alexander McQueen, whose lifetime collection of work was showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last summer.

A dress designed by the legendary fashion designer.

The McQueen Exhibition    

According to the official Met website, the exhibition was organized by The Costume Institute, and celebrated the late Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. The exhibition featured work from McQueen’s’ 1992 Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection to his final runway presentation. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His designs– considered as iconic — showcase the work of an artist who truly cares about the ways in which to express it. The exhibition featured approximately one hundred ensembles and seventy accessories from Mr. McQueen’s prolific nineteen-year career.

An example of McQueen challenging and expanding the idea of fashion.

  A Fashion Designer and an Artist

     When a fashion’s designer’s collection of almost his life’s work becomes an exhibition at an art museum that proves the level of significance or regard that fashion has on the world, and how fashion has become an art. In addition, I think fashion is an art in the way that both fashion designer and artists share several similarities. Both need to be inspired for them to create their own designs or works of art. Moreover, both fashion designer and artists obtain inspiration from the world around them, and perhaps from each other, such as a fashion designer being inspired by a painting or a photograph.

By Joanne Ganthier

Every year new shows premiere on television, and more often than not, there will be a show that instantly becomes a viewer’s favorite. But in a time when more and more shows are getting the ax, maybe, we the viewers should stop becoming invested in these new shows, since there may be a chance a show or shows that we’ve tuned into every week could get cancelled.

A subway billboard for the season premiere of the reality show “Jerseylicious.”

Reality Shows Taking Over

However, with reality shows such as “Jersey Shore”, and “The Bachelor” getting the highest ratings and shows like “Ugly Betty,” that had a healthy and positive message about body image is getting cancelled, it could be only a matter of time until reality shows will become the only program that airs on TV. One show that comes to mind was the television series “Friday Nights Light.” The American sports drama detailed events surrounding a high school football team based in Dillon, Texas, with a focus on the team coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his family. The show used this small town backdrop to address many issues facing contemporary American culture, including school funding, racism, drugs, abortion, and lack of economic opportunities. Although the TV show had a strong audience fan based, it still got cancelled.

A fellow classmate watching Modern Family online

Becoming a Believer

However, a television viewer never loses hope, each time a commercial for a new show catches one’s attention he or she is right back to where they started, hoping that their new favorite show does not get the unfortunate ax. Furthermore, even though reality shows are still the bigger source of entertainment for some, TV shows that do not involve someone getting a rose or getting drunk like there is no tomorrow are still going strong. With shows such as “Glee” and “Modern Family,” still airing on TV, there is hope. Perhaps all that one can do is just go on watching his or her show, with the hopes it will not get cancelled, leaving the show with no ending and the viewers with no closure. I guess when watching television one must become a believer.

One of the many subway billboards for the premiere of the new ABC show “The River.”