Fashion and The Far Right Symposium
The “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville in 2017 marks not only the culmination of violence by the far-right but also of its “weaponization of fashion” (Robin Givhan, ƹƵ Post, 2017). This symposium examines the phenomenon of the far-right “fashion-style-dress complex” (Tulloch, 2010; Kaiser, 2012) and its diverse manifestations on both sides of the Atlantic. Therefore, we will examine fashion as a political and ideological tool, drawing on historical examples such as the Third Reich in Europe and extremist white supremacy in the U.S., as well as contemporary analyses of the renewal and commodification of nationalist, fascist, and racist ethno-pluralist signifiers.
How did far-right dress codes evolve from subculture to mainstream? And how has this been fueling the growth and normalization of various hate cultures?
Addressing the alarming rise of far-right labels, merch and the ongoing globalization of hate groups, the event will also highlight counter strategies in fashion. The portmanteau "hatejacking" (Benton&Peterka Benton 2020) for example, not only reflects the intersection of fashion and its appropriation by right-wing extremists, but also develops solutions to counteract this.
Through keynotes, lectures and panel discussions, we aim to develop new strategies to counteract the weaponization of style in today's socio political landscape. We invite you to join us for an in-depth exploration of how fashion is entangled with extremism—and how we can challenge and counter this dangerous trend.
The symposium is a cooperation between the research project Fashion and the Far-Right: The New Complexity in Style at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), and the PERIL Polarization & Extremism Research Lab - School of Public Affairs at American University, ƹƵ, DC.
How did far-right dress codes evolve from subculture to mainstream? And how has this been fueling the growth and normalization of various hate cultures?
Addressing the alarming rise of far-right labels, merch and the ongoing globalization of hate groups, the event will also highlight counter strategies in fashion. The portmanteau "hatejacking" (Benton&Peterka Benton 2020) for example, not only reflects the intersection of fashion and its appropriation by right-wing extremists, but also develops solutions to counteract this.
Through keynotes, lectures and panel discussions, we aim to develop new strategies to counteract the weaponization of style in today's socio political landscape. We invite you to join us for an in-depth exploration of how fashion is entangled with extremism—and how we can challenge and counter this dangerous trend.
The symposium is a cooperation between the research project Fashion and the Far-Right: The New Complexity in Style at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), and the PERIL Polarization & Extremism Research Lab - School of Public Affairs at American University, ƹƵ, DC.
- Type:
- Workshops and Seminars
- Host:
- School of Public Affairs
- Contact:
- Jill Worrell
- Event Website:
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