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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DJRN 329"
COURSE NAME: "Fashion Journalism"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Giulia Rossi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to understand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DJRN 329"
COURSE NAME: "Fashion Journalism" SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Giulia Rossi
EMAIL: [email protected] HOURS: TTH 10 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45 CREDITS: 3

PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

As a form of expression, fashion is an important lens to observe and study society. Understanding the semiotic and cultural relevance of fashion is particularly critical in the contemporary era of digi- tal communication, characterized by an over-representation of the self in everyday life, and the constant sharing of private lives through social media networks. Students will have an overview on the history of fashion journalism and how it has been changed from the beginning until the present, considering the difficult cohabitation with blogging and new forms of digital communication, such as brand journalism, the presence of influences and content marketing for platforms connected to fashion— in particular Instagram.

The course open with a general framing of the main sociological theories dedicated to fashion, considering it as a form of identity, strictly connected to culture and language (Simmel, De Saussu- re, Veblen, Benjamin, Blumer, Barthes, Goffman, Bourdieau).

The second part is the fashion writing laboratory. The writing laboratory component of the course entails a critical analysis of historical case studies of digital magazines, fashion blogs and Insta- gram profiles. For all these cases histories/case studies, the analysis will be focused on different elements such as the style of writing and the choice of content relevant both for the editorial plan and the business and marketing plan. Students will acquire skills on how to work inside a new- sroom and as a freelancer and explore the differences between these two positions. They also will become familiar with the different professional positions in the market of fashion journalism and digital fashion media.

The third part of the course initiates the formal theoretical phase that first analyzes the digital fa- shion media system today through a semiotic approach related to considering fashion as langua- ge. Deep attention will be dedicated to the analysis of fashion blogs and social networks as new media.

The fourth and final part is part pertains to the history of fashion journalism, which analyzes the connections between subcultures and mainstream cultures. Related to this is the theme of street style (Hebdige, Polhemus) and how it has been reflected in different magazines.

No particular equipment or costs required.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO):

•Become a fashion journalist: learn how to work for fashion media companies inside a newsroom, for communication agencies or as a freelance;

•Gain the skills to become a fashion blogger and create a personal own business, using the writing and editorial skills acquired to promote yourself as a brand connected to different possible activi- ties;

•Manage one’s own digital presence, learning the use of digital media, SEO, and social networks applied to fashion as a fundamental skill for a communication manager;

•Obtain or access expert and insider knowledge from the side of culture and communication of fa- shion, useful for consultants of public and private fashion institutions (such as museums and fa- shion exhibitions) or to work as editors for publishing houses specialized in this particular field.

TEXTBOOK: none
REQUIRED RESERVED READING: none RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING: none

Course Materials

Readings
You will find all your readings on MOODLE

GRADING POLICY ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment Guidelines Weight

All the assignments have been scheduled considering Rome Time.

Active participation and preparation 10% Active participation and preparation constitute an ex- tremely important element for this course. Students’ degree of engagement with the material and participation during open and structured in-class discussions will determine the participation por- tion of your final grade. In order to prepare well for discussions, students need to complete the reading assigned for each class (as specified in the syllabus schedule) and be familiar with its con- tent and general argument.

Midterm exam 30% - (On schedule in class) The exam will assess students’ knowledge of rele- vant elements of Italy’s cultural history relating to fashion and the course readings/discussions and will assess their ability to apply different critical approaches to the phenomena discussed in class. The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in the format of 10 short questions (100 words for each). All the questions have the same weight in the final grade. Scheduled in class on February, Tuesday 18th. (There are no possibilities for make-up for the midterm, nor for doing the midterm online. The only possibility to do the midterm is IN CLASS, on the day and time indicated in the syllabus.)

Oral Presentation (15%) (On schedule in class April Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd. By April, Tuesday 1st, at 10.00 AM, each student must have uploaded their file online on Canvas.) Group presentation (max 4). Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the pro-

fessor in class. Students must demonstrate critical analysis skills in the completion of this project, not simply summarize information. The assignment will consist in a ppt presentation (between 15/20 slides) on a topic chosen by students and approved by the professor. The oral presentation will be less than 10 minutes long. All members of each group must participate in the oral presenta- tion.

Topics and groups must be communicated at the beginning of the week 10 (Tuesday March

25th).

**Please be aware that the professor may interact with you and the rest of the class during presen- tations that are required in this course.**

Research Project (15%) (1,500 words). Individual assignment. Students choose and research a topic related to Fashion and write a paper based on a focused research question that engages with relevant theoretical premises and formulates a critical argument. A minimum of 3 academic, peer- reviewed sources is required. Upload to Canvas (Turnitin) in .doc or .docx format by April 24th at 10 AM.

Final Exam (in class exam 30%) (On schedule in class during exam session) The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in an essay format. The professor will provide students with an outline (news) to be developed into an article of the indicated length. For this article the student will also need to create a title and subtitle. Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the professor in class.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem rai- sed.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omis- sions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflec- ting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the mate- rial.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a fai- ling grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Acade-

mic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismis- sal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

(Please be advised that the schedule could change according to class needs)

WEEK 1:

Tuesday 21st January (first day of classes): Introduction to the course.
Wednesday 23rd January: An introduction to Fashion Studies. The father of sociology of fashion,

George Simmel.

WEEK 2:

Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th January
Walter Benjamin and the theory of fashion as the eternal return of new, the image of the Tiger-

sprung that connects past, present and future. Studying fashion as language, from the se- miotics of Ferdinand de Saussure to the system of fashion created by Roland Barthes. Ve- blen and The Theory of The Leisure Class.

WEEK 3:

Tuesday 4th and Thursday 6th February
Herbert Blumer, from Class Differentiation to Collective Selection. From trickle-down theory to bub- ble up, the studies of Ted Polhemus about streetstyles and subcultures.

WEEK 4

Tuesday 11st February
Erving Goffman and the representation of self as a very relevant approach to the sociology of fa- shion (and communication). Pierre Bourdieau, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, how cultural capital is relevant to determine what constitutes taste within society.

Thursday 13rd February Review for the MIDTERM

WEEK 5:
February, Tuesday 18th: MIDTERM TEST 30% of the final grade (in class)

February Thursday 20th
Introduction to Fashion Journalism. A brief history of fashion journalism.

WEEK 6

February Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th
Fashion writing Laboratory/ Writing articles for digital magazines, blog posts and posts for Insta- gram. Study the how to become fashion journalists and bloggers means to explore the different steps of the process: 1) the selection of the topic; 2) the correct placing of different texts inside magazines or blogs; 3) the most appropriate style to use according to the type of media used; 4) the proof review and editing part; 5) how to make titles, subtitles and summaries. (PART I)

WEEK 7

March Tuesday 4th, Thursday 6th
Fashion writing Laboratory/ Writing articles for digital magazines, blog posts and posts for Insta- gram. Study the how to become fashion journalists and bloggers means to explore the different steps of the process: 1) the selection of the topic; 2) the correct placing of different texts inside magazines or blogs; 3) the most appropriate style to use according to the type of media used; 4) the proof review and editing part; 5) how to make titles, subtitles and summaries. (PART II)

WEEK 8
March 10-14 (Mon-Fri) Spring Break

WEEK 9

March, Tuesday 18th, Thursday 20th
Fashion and Criticism: a different perspective.

WEEK 10

March Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th
History of Fashion Journalism. From the Late Nineteenth Century to nowadays. Critical analysis.

(PART I)

Oscar Wilde, On Woman’s Dress Lois Long, Feminine Fashions

Oral presentations: Topics and groups must be communicated at the beginning of the week 10 ( Tuesday 25th)

WEEK 11

April Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd

Oral group presentation 15%

By April, Tuesday 1st, at 10.00 AM, each student must have uploaded their file online on Canvas.

WEEK 12

April, Tuesday 8th, Thursday 10th
History of Fashion Journalism. From the Late Nineteenth Century to nowadays. Critical analysis.

(PART II)

Valerie Steele, Calvinism Unclothed Susan Sontag, Looking with Avedon

WEEK 13

April, Tuesday 15th, Thursday 17th
Perspective for the future of fashion journalism. Rethinking the digital message and the standard to value it: from quantity to quality. The use of influencers for activities of branding. From bloggers to influencers and from influencers to content creators. New words for new professions?

WEEK 14

April, Tuesday 22nd, Thursday 24th
New competencies due to have to enter the world of digital fashion media. Acting on social net- works, From the need to have models and experts to the need of someone “like me.”

Conclusions of the course.

Research Project (15%) (1,500 words). Individual assignment. Students choose and research a topic related to Fashion and write a paper based on a focused research question that engages with relevant theoretical premises and formulates a critical argument. A minimum of 3 academic, peer- reviewed sources is required. Upload to Canvas (Turnitin) in .doc or .docx format by April 24th at 10 AM.

WEEK 15

April Tuesday 29th: Last day of classes, review for the FINAL EXAM

The Final Exam is’s on schedule in class during exam session.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to understand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
F For Fashion Giulia RossiPendragon978-88-3364-891-0     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Active participation and preparationActive participation and preparation 10% Active participation and preparation constitute an ex- tremely important element for this course. Students’ degree of engagement with the material and participation during open and structured in-class discussions will determine the participation por- tion of your final grade. In order to prepare well for discussions, students need to complete the reading assigned for each class (as specified in the syllabus schedule) and be familiar with its con- tent and general argument.10
Midterm exam Midterm exam 30% - (On schedule in class) The exam will assess students’ knowledge of relevant elements of Italy’s cultural history relating to fashion and the course readings/discussions and will assess their ability to apply different critical approaches to the phenomena discussed in class. The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in the format of 10 short questions (100 words for each). All the questions have the same weight in the final grade. Scheduled in class on February, Tuesday 18th. (There are no possibilities for make-up for the midterm, nor for doing the midterm online. The only possibility to do the midterm is IN CLASS, on the day and time indicated in the syllabus.)30%
Oral presentationOral Presentation (15%) (On schedule in class April Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd. By April, Tuesday 1st, at 10.00 AM, each student must have uploaded their file online on Canvas.) Group presentation (max 4). Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the professor in class. Students must demonstrate critical analysis skills in the completion of this project, not simply summarize information. The assignment will consist in a ppt presentation (between 15/20 slides) on a topic chosen by students and approved by the professor. The oral presentation will be less than 10 minutes long. All members of each group must participate in the oral presentation. Topics and groups must be communicated at the beginning of the week 10 (Tuesday March 25th). **Please be aware that the professor may interact with you and the rest of the class during presen- tations that are required in this course.**15
Research Project Research Project (15%) (1,500 words). Individual assignment. Students choose and research a topic related to Fashion and write a paper based on a focused research question that engages with relevant theoretical premises and formulates a critical argument. A minimum of 3 academic, peer- reviewed sources is required. Upload to Canvas (Turnitin) in .doc or .docx format by April 24th at 10 AM. 15%
Final ExamFinal Exam (in class exam 30%) (On schedule in class during exam session) The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in an essay format. The professor will provide students with an outline (news) to be developed into an article of the indicated length. For this article the student will also need to create a title and subtitle. Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the professor in class.30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DJRN 329"
COURSE NAME: "Fashion Journalism" SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Giulia Rossi
EMAIL: [email protected] HOURS: TTH 10 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45 CREDITS: 3

PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

As a form of expression, fashion is an important lens to observe and study society. Understanding the semiotic and cultural relevance of fashion is particularly critical in the contemporary era of digi- tal communication, characterized by an over-representation of the self in everyday life, and the constant sharing of private lives through social media networks. Students will have an overview on the history of fashion journalism and how it has been changed from the beginning until the present, considering the difficult cohabitation with blogging and new forms of digital communication, such as brand journalism, the presence of influences and content marketing for platforms connected to fashion— in particular Instagram.

The course open with a general framing of the main sociological theories dedicated to fashion, considering it as a form of identity, strictly connected to culture and language (Simmel, De Saussu- re, Veblen, Benjamin, Blumer, Barthes, Goffman, Bourdieau).

The second part is the fashion writing laboratory. The writing laboratory component of the course entails a critical analysis of historical case studies of digital magazines, fashion blogs and Insta- gram profiles. For all these cases histories/case studies, the analysis will be focused on different elements such as the style of writing and the choice of content relevant both for the editorial plan and the business and marketing plan. Students will acquire skills on how to work inside a new- sroom and as a freelancer and explore the differences between these two positions. They also will become familiar with the different professional positions in the market of fashion journalism and digital fashion media.

The third part of the course initiates the formal theoretical phase that first analyzes the digital fa- shion media system today through a semiotic approach related to considering fashion as langua- ge. Deep attention will be dedicated to the analysis of fashion blogs and social networks as new media.

The fourth and final part is part pertains to the history of fashion journalism, which analyzes the connections between subcultures and mainstream cultures. Related to this is the theme of street style (Hebdige, Polhemus) and how it has been reflected in different magazines.

No particular equipment or costs required.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO):

•Become a fashion journalist: learn how to work for fashion media companies inside a newsroom, for communication agencies or as a freelance;

•Gain the skills to become a fashion blogger and create a personal own business, using the writing and editorial skills acquired to promote yourself as a brand connected to different possible activi- ties;

•Manage one’s own digital presence, learning the use of digital media, SEO, and social networks applied to fashion as a fundamental skill for a communication manager;

•Obtain or access expert and insider knowledge from the side of culture and communication of fa- shion, useful for consultants of public and private fashion institutions (such as museums and fa- shion exhibitions) or to work as editors for publishing houses specialized in this particular field.

TEXTBOOK: “F for Fashion” GIulia Rossi, Pendragon, 2024. (ISBN: 978-88-3364-891-0)

REQUIRED RESERVED READING: none RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING: none

Course Materials

Readings
You will find all your readings on MOODLE

GRADING POLICY ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment Guidelines Weight

All the assignments have been scheduled considering Rome Time.

Active participation and preparation 10% Active participation and preparation constitute an ex- tremely important element for this course. Students’ degree of engagement with the material and participation during open and structured in-class discussions will determine the participation por- tion of your final grade. In order to prepare well for discussions, students need to complete the reading assigned for each class (as specified in the syllabus schedule) and be familiar with its con- tent and general argument.

Midterm exam 30% - (On schedule in class) The exam will assess students’ knowledge of rele- vant elements of Italy’s cultural history relating to fashion and the course readings/discussions and will assess their ability to apply different critical approaches to the phenomena discussed in class. The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in the format of 10 short questions (100 words for each). All the questions have the same weight in the final grade. Scheduled in class on February, Tuesday 18th. (There are no possibilities for make-up for the midterm, nor for doing the midterm online. The only possibility to do the midterm is IN CLASS, on the day and time indicated in the syllabus.)

Oral Presentation (15%) (On schedule in class April Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd. By April, Tuesday 1st, at 10.00 AM, each student must have uploaded their file online on Canvas.) Group presentation (max 4). Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the pro-

fessor in class. Students must demonstrate critical analysis skills in the completion of this project, not simply summarize information. The assignment will consist in a ppt presentation (between 15/20 slides) on a topic chosen by students and approved by the professor. The oral presentation will be less than 10 minutes long. All members of each group must participate in the oral presenta- tion.

Topics and groups must be communicated at the beginning of the week 10 (Tuesday March

25th).

**Please be aware that the professor may interact with you and the rest of the class during presen- tations that are required in this course.**

Research Project (15%) (1,500 words). Individual assignment. Students choose and research a topic related to Fashion and write a paper based on a focused research question that engages with relevant theoretical premises and formulates a critical argument. A minimum of 3 academic, peer- reviewed sources is required. Upload to Canvas (Turnitin) in .doc or .docx format by April 24th at 10 AM.

Final Exam (in class exam 30%) (On schedule in class during exam session) The exam will include indicatively 1,000 words of writing, in an essay format. The professor will provide students with an outline (news) to be developed into an article of the indicated length. For this article the student will also need to create a title and subtitle. Details about this aspect will be communicated to students by the professor in class.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem rai- sed.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omis- sions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflec- ting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the mate- rial.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course focuses on the role of fashion journalism in both traditional mass media and emerging digital media. Students will learn to define fashion from a cultural theory framework and to under- stand its relevance to contemporary society. The course combines theory and practice, ranging from a cultural approach to the subject of fashion journalism and fashion media, to applying it to the skill of fashion journalism and working in the industry.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a fai- ling grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Acade-

mic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismis- sal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

(Please be advised that the schedule could change according to class needs)

WEEK 1:

Tuesday 21st January (first day of classes): Introduction to the course.
Wednesday 23rd January: An introduction to Fashion Studies. The father of sociology of fashion,

George Simmel.

WEEK 2:

Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th January
Walter Benjamin and the theory of fashion as the eternal return of new, the image of the Tiger-

sprung that connects past, present and future. Studying fashion as language, from the se- miotics of Ferdinand de Saussure to the system of fashion created by Roland Barthes. Ve- blen and The Theory of The Leisure Class.

WEEK 3:

Tuesday 4th and Thursday 6th February
Herbert Blumer, from Class Differentiation to Collective Selection. From trickle-down theory to bub- ble up, the studies of Ted Polhemus about streetstyles and subcultures.

WEEK 4

Tuesday 11st February
Erving Goffman and the representation of self as a very relevant approach to the sociology of fa- shion (and communication). Pierre Bourdieau, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, how cultural capital is relevant to determine what constitutes taste within society.

Thursday 13rd February Review for the MIDTERM

WEEK 5:
February, Tuesday 18th: MIDTERM TEST 30% of the final grade (in class)

February Thursday 20th
Introduction to Fashion Journalism. A brief history of fashion journalism.

WEEK 6

February Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th
Fashion writing Laboratory/ Writing articles for digital magazines, blog posts and posts for Insta- gram. Study the how to become fashion journalists and bloggers means to explore the different steps of the process: 1) the selection of the topic; 2) the correct placing of different texts inside magazines or blogs; 3) the most appropriate style to use according to the type of media used; 4) the proof review and editing part; 5) how to make titles, subtitles and summaries. (PART I)

WEEK 7

March Tuesday 4th, Thursday 6th
Fashion writing Laboratory/ Writing articles for digital magazines, blog posts and posts for Insta- gram. Study the how to become fashion journalists and bloggers means to explore the different steps of the process: 1) the selection of the topic; 2) the correct placing of different texts inside magazines or blogs; 3) the most appropriate style to use according to the type of media used; 4) the proof review and editing part; 5) how to make titles, subtitles and summaries. (PART II)

WEEK 8
March 10-14 (Mon-Fri) Spring Break

WEEK 9

March, Tuesday 18th, Thursday 20th
Fashion and Criticism: a different perspective.

WEEK 10

March Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th
History of Fashion Journalism. From the Late Nineteenth Century to nowadays. Critical analysis.

(PART I)

Oscar Wilde, On Woman’s Dress Lois Long, Feminine Fashions

Oral presentations: Topics and groups must be communicated at the beginning of the week 10 ( Tuesday 25th)

WEEK 11

April Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd

Oral group presentation 15%

By April, Tuesday 1st, at 10.00 AM, each student must have uploaded their file online on Canvas.

WEEK 12

April, Tuesday 8th, Thursday 10th
History of Fashion Journalism. From the Late Nineteenth Century to nowadays. Critical analysis.

(PART II)

Valerie Steele, Calvinism Unclothed Susan Sontag, Looking with Avedon

WEEK 13

April, Tuesday 15th, Thursday 17th
Perspective for the future of fashion journalism. Rethinking the digital message and the standard to value it: from quantity to quality. The use of influencers for activities of branding. From bloggers to influencers and from influencers to content creators. New words for new professions?

WEEK 14

April, Tuesday 22nd, Thursday 24th
New competencies due to have to enter the world of digital fashion media. Acting on social net- works, From the need to have models and experts to the need of someone “like me.”

Conclusions of the course.

Research Project (15%) (1,500 words). Individual assignment. Students choose and research a topic related to Fashion and write a paper based on a focused research question that engages with relevant theoretical premises and formulates a critical argument. A minimum of 3 academic, peer- reviewed sources is required. Upload to Canvas (Turnitin) in .doc or .docx format by April 24th at 10 AM.

WEEK 15

April Tuesday 29th: Last day of classes, review for the FINAL EXAM

The Final Exam is’s on schedule in class during exam session.