Rachel K. Ward. Georg Simmel on Fashion and Class. 2012

http://www.egs.edu/ Rachel K. Ward, talking about the society types, systems, groups, and code. In the lecture Rachel K. Ward discusses the concepts of class, capitalism, fashion, identity, in relationship to Georg Simmel, uniformity, military, aggressive, Steve Job, Mario Testino, focusing on State of Emergency, Giorgio Agamben, and Steven Meisel. Public open lecture for the students and faculty of the European Graduate School EGS Media and Communication Studies department program Saas-Fee Switzerland Europe 2012 Rachel K Ward.

Rachel K. Ward, Ph.D., is a rising philosopher who specializes in the intersection of fashion and art. She is a Professor of fashion media at the European Graduate School (EGS) where she teaches an intensive summer seminar. The focus of her work is visual culture as meta-language, specifically how fashion images serve as a site for the negotiation of desire. For Ward, fashion photography functions as an intersection of aesthetic, ethical and social values. As a popular but equally creative and often progressive media it crosses thresholds of both journalism and art. The result is a unique form of media that works to advance ideal, mythical and capitalist desires.

Ward has a combination of academic and professional experience in the US and Europe. Her Ph.D. dissertation was entitled "The Vanishing Point: Decadence, Desire, Truth", receiving the Magna Cum Laude distinction at EGS. Ward also holds an MA in Art History, receiving Cum Laude distinction at the University of Florida. Her graduate thesis on artist Edward Ruscha, entitled "Scenic Drive," was published by MAXXI in Rome. Ward also holds a BA in Psychology, with an Art History minor, from Stetson University, Florida. Ward supports her academic work with more than a decade of professional experience in international fashion and art. She has been featured for her creative work in Vogue (Paris), as well as in the New York Times, Artforum's "Best of" and others. Additionally, she has written journalism for the New York Times global edition, Haute Living, V Magazine and ArtReview. She has also consulted in fashion and art branding, photography and private collections.