AR29E: Fashion, Culture and Development in the Caribbean

Lecturer:
Pre-Requisite: None
Semester: 2
Credits: 3
Level: 2

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RATIONALE

The course explores the Caribbean fashion industry (CFI) as a sector of the region’s cultural/creative industries and examines its potential as a catalyst for socio-economic development of the region. Students will be introduced in detail to the CFI’s trends, horizontal and vertical linkages and other peculiarities of this industry as well as uncover its relation to the other cultural industries of the Caribbean. Recognising the rise in the importance of this sector within the region, students will learn how to critically assess the contribution and potential of this industry to further contribute to the region’s development.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to:

• Outline the basic concepts and principles that relate to the Caribbean fashion industry and its linkage industries such as, entertainment, sports, media and technology
• Analyze the roles of the various players in the Caribbean fashion industry, such as, the designers, marketers, distributors, retailers, modelling agencies and stylists among others
• Assess the impact of globalization on our Caribbean fashion product
• Formulate ideas for the development of the Caribbean fashion and cultural industry, including articulating the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in achieving this goal

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching methods will include lecture/discussion, guest presentations, the use of audio-visual media, tutorial presentations, and site visits.  There will be three (3) contact hours per week comprising one two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial.

EVALUATION

Coursework 50%

1. A 1500-word essay - 20%
2. Fieldwork project report - 30%
   or
   Group fashion production - 30%

Examination 50%