Fashion Everydayness as a Cultural Revolution in Social Media Platforms-Focus on Fashion Instagrammers - MDPI
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sustainability Article Fashion Everydayness as a Cultural Revolution in Social Media Platforms—Focus on Fashion Instagrammers Sungeun Suh Fashion Design Major, College of Arts, Gachon University, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 13120, Korea; sesuh@gachon.ac.kr; Tel.: +82-31-750-5948 Received: 17 January 2020; Accepted: 4 March 2020; Published: 5 March 2020 Abstract: This study qualitatively analyzes the phenomenon of fashion everydayness as a cultural revolution in the digital space as everyday life continues to expand into digital platforms. The analysis proceeded in four perspectives based on Lefebvre’s theoretical framework: the festivalization of everyday life, the artification of everyday life, the holistic stylization of everyday life, and cultural revolution as a daily practice. Instagram, the case for this study and the most popular image-centric social network, leads the digital aesthetics paradigm through creative acts that weave fashion into the daily life of the individual. The study focuses on three fashion mega-influencers whose successful careers began with blogs documenting their daily lives. The analysis showed that Instagram, as a social platform, is a creative space for sharing everyday life with its appropriation of time and space. In there, fashion visualizes the look of the everyday beyond the boundaries of time and space. In practice, it suggests a digital cultural revolution: a composite lifestyle expressive of various tastes and styles—a vital medium to inspire and sustain fashion everydayness. This has implications that the information and communication technology of the digital age created a new cultural space and that daily visualization through fashion will eventually produce sustainable cultural contents. Keywords: cultural revolution; social media platform; Instagram; fashion everydayness; digital space and time 1. Introduction Culture continues to experience tremendous changes in communication methods and information consumption as digital technology and social media develop and evolve. The mobile device has become fundamental for everyday communication even as its presentational medium rapidly shifts from text to images and videos. In turn, the concept of daily time and space has been reconstructed and reproduced, following the operating mechanism and rhythm of information and communication media from the computer and the Internet to cellphones and smartphones [1] (p. 615). From a linear and cyclical conceptualization of time, the advent of digital space reconceives time now as simultaneous, fluid, and transcendent [2] (p. 10). Digital space has claimed aesthetics as a creative space for individuals in their everyday life—the space of cultural consumption, production, and distribution in present society. In time, the idea of everyday life may also extend to virtual or augmented reality. In sociology, everydayness is a core theme in works reconstructing the vitality, creativity, and aesthetics of everyday life in postmodern society [3]. De Certeau, for example, stressed the daily continuance of creative work in one’s life for rejuvenation and transformation [4]. On the other hand, Maffesoli viewed the space of everyday life as a space of personal emotional creation and presented the digital space as a domain of everydayness revelatory of the fundamental power that constitutes society in the digital age [5]. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979; doi:10.3390/su12051979 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 2 of 18 Fashion has been recently attracting attention as a daily phenomenon that projects our everyday lives on a digital platform. Posts from diverse, influential fashion Instagrammers and YouTubers are projected as lifestyles and values of the millennial generation, accelerating the digital renovation of the fashion system. Leading fashion theorists Agnés Rocamora, Eugenie Shinkle, and Reina Lewis discuss similar themes in their works, focusing on fashion images and personal style of influencers in the blogosphere as new fashion media. Shinkle [6] (p. 1) emphasized that digital image and fashion interactives, wherein users can select and control via a computer interface, now seem ready to replace the still photograph as a key media form of fashion. Similarly, Rocamora [7] (p. 1) stated that fashion blogs have become key players in the field of fashion, evident among personal fashion blogs documenting the blogger owner’s style. The medium represents a significant space that encourages individual identity while establishing itself as a central form of fashion blogging. In the era of new media, personal styles emerge from fashion recipients who create their own image by transforming and combining fashion information through the representative social media [8] (p. 2). Rocamora also consistently discusses the rise of the fashion blogosphere and the impact of new technologies on fashion [9–11]. Additionally, Lewis said that the fashion blog is an open network that provides an opportunity to introduce a variety of global and local fashion [12]. Luis, Ana-Isabel, and Ubaldo [13] discussed the critical influence of the rise of Instagram as the fastest-growing social network in beauty and fashion brands. Wang, Ahmed, Deng, and Wang [14] examined the overall performance achievement of social media marketing, even in Bangladesh. The appropriation of time and space on digital platforms—blogging in this case—follows Henri Lefebvre’s concept of cultural revolution in which innovation and change are pursued through everyday creative practice. The digital platform has thus become a new place of digital everydayness, and Lefebvre’s vision of overcoming alienation in everyday life through appropriation as the identification of self the value of festivals and play, and as a resurgence of style and artwork, is well suited to studying the everydayness of fashion in social media. Within these contexts, this study qualitatively analyzed the role of fashion in visualizing everyday life in social media and the concordant influence of digital space on the digital paradigm of fashion. The focus is on Instagram as an image-driven digital media where people visually represent everyday moments and as a platform for representing individual styles through fashion-centric images. With the intent of following the trajectory of how a casual Instagrammer transition to a mega-fashion influencer, Tavi Gevinson (@tavitulle), Susanna Lau (@susiebubble), and Chiara Ferragni’s (@chiaraferragni) blogs were selected for the analyses. The selected blogs were analyzed following four perspectives, based on Lefebvre’s concepts: the festivalization everyday life; the artification of everyday life; the holistic stylization of everyday life; and cultural revolution as a daily practice. 2. Literature Review 2.1. Fashion in Everyday Life Recently, the subject of everyday life has become more critical in fashion studies. According to Buckley and Clark [15]: “Fashion and everyday life are somewhat multivalent terms. Everyday life can refer to both experience and synchronicity. The everyday experience is in its typical form today, as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow; what constitutes everyday life changes according to the time and place. Fashion was integral to everyday life in the 20th century, and its impact grew as the century progressed. As a visual spectacle and material object, fashion offered the potential for the extraordinary to occur in the context of the everyday, thus enabling transformations in appearance and identities”. [15] (p. 1) In conjunction, Lefebvre and Levich [16] considered fashion, along with food and housing, as “essential for everyday life, as constituting autonomous subsystems and representing a diversity” [16] (p. 8).
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 3 of 18 The everyday is a “set of functions that connect and join together systems that might appear to be distinct” [16] (p. 9). Linked together, it results in the concept of “style,” including functions and structures as integral parts of its form [16] (p. 8). If one can consider the relationship between fashion and everyday aesthetics based on the content the former produces, fashion, “in everyday mode,” could be interpreted as a configuration of lifestyle; fashion-as-lifestyle can be considered as the emblem of this new state of things” [17] (p. 241). Ash and Wilson [18] recognized the diverse ways in which fashion intersects with everyday life, and identified fashion as one of the most immediate and everyday cultural manifestations. In agreement, Buckley and Clark [15] consider fashion to be embedded and contingent in the practices of people’s daily lives, both a personal expression of everyday life and a sociocultural phenomenon; everyday clothes routinely worn by people reveal an ongoing engagement with fashion on a scale from extraordinary to ordinary—either of which can be indicative of the everyday [15] (p. 7). There is also the essential contradiction and tension in daily life: stable and impermanent but always in a process and, therefore, imperfect [19] (p. 75). These contradictory characteristics of everyday life relate to the double-sidedness of fashion: it can be ordinary and extraordinary, routine and special, or essential and updated. We try not only to wear everyday clothes in the routine of life, but also to express self-image in our own style. We also dress in more extraordinary ways to express the everyday in special situations, such as festivals, events, and leisure activities. Considering the trajectories of fashion in everyday life, “it is possible to explore the fault lines or intersections of ordinary fashion with ongoing lives” [15] (p. 3). When a contemporary fashion trajectory can be traced over the last century in the catwalk, the magazine, the boutique, the department store, and the designer, fashion is present in the distinct, superior, specialized, structured activities [15] (p. 9). When tracing fashion in everyday life, the everyday may be obvious: readily exposed by rummaging through diaries, letters, photographs, and other such alternative sources instead of looking at government records as Highmore mentioned [20] (p. 1). As our living space has expanded to the digital space, everyday life and fashion are now traceable via social media platforms. Therefore, fashion, everyday life, and the social media platform need to be discussed more in a syntagmatic analysis. 2.2. Digital Everydayness as Cultural Revolution 2.2.1. The Concept of Cultural Revolution Lefebvre [21] asserted the necessity of cultural revolution in 20th-century society to create a holistic lifestyle through everyday practice. Appropriation as a key concept of cultural revolution is crucial to overcoming neglected daily routines; it refers to “the management of the body, desire, and time without reliance on external bodies—an appropriate person is not alienated and is self-possessed” [21] (p. 39). Appropriation as creative action is to derive potential from ordinary everyday life; as such, the products of nature and the social turn into goods [21] (p. 77). “Appropriating social and natural beings” is essential to human life and is opposed to the capitalist social order dominated by exchange values [10] (p. 38). “Everyday artwork” is a cultural revolution that refers to the creation of culture as a lifestyle [21]. In other words, Lefebvre’s cultural revolution is the reclamation of style and work created by one’s whole being [2] (p. 3). Instagram expresses the various daily desires through fashion—a visual medium. Influencers form visually unique identities through their fashion tastes and lifestyles, which means establishing the holistic stylization of everyday life through one’s fashion image. 2.2.2. The appropriation of Time and Space in Digital Space According to Lefebvre, the “appropriation of time has its own character. It does not come as calculated; it comes when an activity brings fullness. These activities include aspects of self-creation and talent to achieve harmony with oneself” [22] (p. 208–209). In the context of the appropriation of time, he emphasized the need to restore the “rhythm of me” through a rhythm analysis of daily life [22]
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 4 of 18 (p. 20). Lefebvre also defined an appropriated space as “a space modified to realize the needs and potential of a group” [23] (p. 58) and emphasized the need to recognize space as a social medium of life open to ever-changing lives and numerous possibilities. De Certeau perceives social space as variable according to human creativity and practice [2]. Aesthetics in spatiality are linked to the aesthetics of everyday life. These aesthetic values are no longer carried out by privileged or professional artists but are permeated into the daily life and space of ordinary people to improve the quality of life in general [24]. The greatest change that had emerged in the advent of this digital era is cyberspace; social media platforms as virtual and integrated spaces of everyday life in particular. As a lifestyle, fashion appropriates the time and space of everyday life in a digital space and generates its own value. Fashion has been also democratized in the digital space, no longer owned by privileged groups as how high fashion was exclusively accessible for them. Social media platforms opened a way to various kinds of fashion to the public, encouraging anyone to express and share personal fashion in everyday life in public. As social networks evolved into media platforms, its position and influence in the cultural ecosystem increased [25]. According to the 2018 Netizen Profile Research Report of NAS Media [26], Instagram, which freely presents uploaded pictures with an intuitive search engine that uses hashtags, had the highest utilization rate of that year. Naturally, the formed trend is that users express and boast of their daily life on Instagram [27]. 2.2.3. Digital Everydayness and Fashion Lefebvre and Levich [16] wrote: “The everyday is situated at the intersection of two modes of repetition: the cyclical, which dominates in nature, and the linear, which dominates in processes known as rational. The days follow one after another and resemble one another, and yet here lies the contradiction at the heart of everydayness: everything changes, but the change is programmed”. [16] (p. 10) The organizing principle of spatial composition in 20th-century industrial society was the control of human beings according to unilinear time. The cycle of time and space was uniformly divided by night and day, labor and relaxation, and so on [1,28] (pp. 614–615). Time in the digital age, however, is current, transcendent, and immediate. In such an age, cyberspace embodies everything imaginable, while physical space provides a safe basis for reality and materiality [29]. As digital society advanced, the convergence of these different sections of everyday life are given representation from the differentiation and convergence of the physical and cyberspaces, the dissolution of boundaries between the public and private, and the collapse of the time–space cycle of labor and leisure that governed the industrial society. Now and wherever, citizens enjoy a new spatial system that connects everyone in “my own space without space”; it also began a possible future where one could live beyond the traditional boundaries of time [30]. Especially in social media, people are always connected in real time and transcend the boundaries of public and private realms as well as work and leisure. As social media platforms expand into everyday time and space, fashion also visualizes this phenomenon on the social platform every day. Kawamura [31] noted that the impact of technology is evident in every interactive sphere of our lives, including how individuals, particularly the youth, socially interact within fashion communities. Rocamora [7] (p. 1) said that personal fashion blogs have established itself as a central form of fashion blogging by posting photos of bloggers documenting their style in everyday life. Rocamora [9,10] also discuss the rise of the fashion blogosphere and the impact of new technologies on the mediation of fashion. She showed the relevance of the concept of the mediatization for understanding the contemporary field of fashion and its relation to digital media, in fashion production and retail.
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 5 of 18 The mediatization of fashion reaches out to ordinary practices of the self, a mediatized self through the use of digital cameras, the same as wearing cosmetics [11]. This study proposes a conceptual model of fashion everydayness on the social media platform, particularly the Instagram case, as a creative cultural revolution through the appropriation of time and space in the digital space (See Figure 1). Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 17 Cultural Revolution Fashion Fashion Everydayness in Fashion in Everyday Life Instagram Social Media Platform Appropriation of Time and Space in Digital Space Figure 1. Research Model. Figure 1. Research Model 3. Methodology 3. Methodology Ormston, R., Spencer, L., Barnard, M., and Snape, D. [32] discussed the major characteristics of Ormston, R., Spencer, qualitative research and the L.,importance Barnard, M., and Snape, D. [32] of understanding discussed the issues key philosophical major in characteristics the development of qualitative research and the importance of understanding key philosophical issues of social research. 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Miller and Slater interviews, [36] defined discourse analysis, Netnography archive analysis, and field trips. In this paper, the case study was conducted by analyzinginthe as a combination of the internet and ethnography. Netnography is carried out parallel fashion with a variety of methodologies, including participatory observation, interviews, images and contents of influencers on Instagram’s social media, based on the analysis of archives in discourse analysis, archive analysis, and the methodology offield trips. In this paper, the case study was conducted by analyzing the fashion netography. imagesIn and contents of influencers Visual Methodologies, Rose on Instagram’s [37] highlights social themedia, influencebasedof on the analysis images given its ofmeaning archives in and the methodology of netography. construction (p.32). Martínez, Llodrà, and Jiménez [38] highlight the impact of social media on target In Visual image Methodologies, formation. Rose [37] This study treated highlights the Instagram—or theinfluence of images site of image according given to its meaning Rose—as theand most construction (p.32). Martínez, Llodrà, and Jiménez [38] highlight the impact of social media on target image formation. This study treated Instagram⎯or the site of image according to Rose⎯as the most representative image centric form of social media that expresses various aspects of everyday life in the digital era. The focus is on Instagram as an image-driven digital media platform where people visually represent everyday moments and as a conduit for representing individual styles through
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 6 of 18 representative image centric form of social media that expresses various aspects of everyday life in the digital era. The focus is on Instagram as an image-driven digital media platform where people visually represent everyday moments and as a conduit for representing individual styles through fashion-centric images. With the intent of following the trajectory of how a casual Instagrammer transitions to a 12, Sustainability 2020, mega-fashion influencer, Tavi Gevinson (@tavitulle), Susanna Lau (@susiebubble), x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 17 and Chiara Ferragni’s (@chiaraferragni) Instagrams were selected for the analyses. The data The data were werecollected collectedfrom from14,277 14,277images imagesuploaded uploadedon onthe thethree threeInstagram Instagramaccounts accountsbetween between January 2013 and December 2019. Four fashion experts (including January 2013 and December 2019. Four fashion experts (including two professors and two PhD two professors and two PhD students) reviewed fashion images based on the research framework students) reviewed fashion images based on the research framework set up from the theoretical set up from the theoretical background,collecting background, collecting 450 450 images, images, with with random random 20–30 20–30 images images of of each each Instagrammer Instagrammer from from each each year. year. In the process of collecting relevant images, images introducing designer collections, In the process of collecting relevant images, images introducing designer collections, publicizing events, publicizing events, and and featuring featuring productsproducts or placesorwithout places without Instagrammers Instagrammers themselves themselves were excluded. were excluded. Once Once similar similarare images images are clustered clustered by topic, by topic, the one most the representative one most representative of that topicofwasthatselected. topic was selected. These These 450 images 450 images were then subjected to an integrated secondary assessment were then subjected to an integrated secondary assessment and were categorized into four groups and were categorized into four their then groups then their images, images, content, content, hashtags, andhashtags, comments and comments in were in conversation conversation reviewedwerebased reviewed on the based on the detailed context of the analytical framework. Subsequently, detailed context of the analytical framework. Subsequently, the 18 representative images that are the 18 representative images that are specifically specifically analyzedanalyzed in this in this study arestudy thoseare those that mostthat most exhibited clearly clearly exhibited fashionfashion everydayness everydayness in the in the four four perspective perspective of cultural of cultural revolution revolution onmedia. on social social media. This study This studytakes takesa conceptual a conceptualand qualitative researchresearch and qualitative methodology to discuss fashion methodology everydayness to discuss fashion everydayness on the social media platform with Instagram case studies as the digitalThe on the social media platform with Instagram case studies as the digital cultural revolution. study cultural also focusedThe revolution. on three study influencers also focusedglobally recognized on three by personal influencers globally fashion practices recognized by on the Instagrams personal fashion and establishing their own aesthetic identity (See Figure 2). practices on the Instagrams and establishing their own aesthetic identity (See Figure 2). Figure2.2. Research Figure Research Methodology Methodology Model. Model. 4. Results and Discussion: Fashion Everydayness in Selected Instagrams 4. Results and Discussion: Fashion Everydayness in Selected Instagrams 4.1. The Festivalization of Everyday Life 4.1. The Festivalization of Everyday Life According to Lefebvre [39] (p. xxviii), a festival, like a revolution, marks both a break in everyday According life and to Lefebvre a rehabilitation [39]everyday. of the (p. xxviii),He a festival, like a revolution, also emphasized marks both the importance ofa“leisure break inactivities” everyday life and a rehabilitation of the everyday. He also emphasized the importance of “leisure activities” and “work–leisure unity” in everyday life [39] (p. 29). Leisure as a festival is an energy for creative production outside the framework of spatial organization, as well as the rationality and efficiency of capitalist time and economic production. Through this festival, Lefebvre pursued the practice of transforming the everyday, producing a new space in the day-to-day [40].
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 7 of 18 and “work–leisure unity” in everyday life [39] (p. 29). Leisure as a festival is an energy for creative production outside the framework of spatial organization, as well as the rationality and efficiency of capitalist time and economic production. Through this festival, Lefebvre pursued the practice of transforming the everyday, producing a new space in the day-to-day [40]. Similarly, Instagrammers transform their daily lives into festivals by dissipating the boundary between work and life. Ferragni and Fedez’s post at Kudadoo Maldives Private Island (Figure Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3) 7 of 17 demonstrates the blurred boundaries between the public and the private as well as work and leisure. Ferragni may Ferragni may bebe on on private private vacation, vacation, but but she she is is also also promoting promoting herher label’s label’s new new swimsuit swimsuit collection. collection. In this way, they present a certain fashion style and subsequently promote related products. In this way, they present a certain fashion style and subsequently promote related products. Special Special occasions also become an opportunity, such as Ferragni’s post of her family donning occasions also become an opportunity, such as Ferragni’s post of her family donning Batman Batman costumes for Halloween costumes (Figure 4). On for Halloween Instagram, (Figure 4). Onthe festivalization Instagram, of everyday life the festivalization ofshows that personal everyday life showsspaces that and daily activities can become special and extraordinary, representing play. personal spaces and daily activities can become special and extraordinary, representing play. Figure Figure 3. 3. Ferragni Ferragni and and Fedez Fedez at at Kudadoo Maldives Private Kudadoo Maldives Private Island. Island. Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram. https://www. instagram.com/p/BsIFbMXBI4h/ (accessed on com/p/BsIFbMXBI4h/ (accessed on 2 March 2019).2 March 2019). Figure Figure 4.4.Ferragni’s family Ferragni’s in Batman family costume. in Batman Reference:Reference: costume. https://www.instagram.com/p/ https://www.instagram.com/p/ BpmIye7FqFn/ (accessed on 2 March 2019). De Certeau De Certeau proposed proposed everyday everyday lifelife as as aa set set of of practices practices that, that, although established, offer although established, offer the the potential for creativity [4]. As for making do with this everyday culture, people potential for creativity [4]. As for making do with this everyday culture, people have also been have also been making with it: with making transforming and inventing it: transforming by appropriating and inventing and redeploying by appropriating [13] (p. and redeploying [13]9). (p. The duality 9). The dualityof fashion is to express everyday life as a festivity, a means of releasing latent desires of fashion is to express everyday life as a festivity, a means of releasing latent desires onto the onto the ordinary. In the digital ordinary. space, In the fashion digital transforms space, everyday life fashion transforms in this way: everyday a cultural life in this way:revolution a culturalofrevolution art and style, of play and festival. art and style, play and festival. The social The social platform platform represents represents the the festival festival of of everyday everyday lifelife in in expanded expanded time time and and space, space, “digital “digital space fluidity” space fluidity” [41][41] that that allows allows users users to to extend extend daily daily horizons horizons beyond beyond time time and and space space in in aa tight tight network. This is particularly seen from influencers’ Instagram posts before their network. This is particularly seen from influencers’ Instagram posts before their commercial success. commercial success. Instagrammers commonly Instagrammers commonlystart startrepresenting representing everyday everyday fashion fashionin intimate spaces, in intimate like their spaces, like own theirhouse, own and be and house, recognized by friends be recognized around.around. by friends As the everyday space of “house” appeared as the main location for Instagram shoots, spaces that used to be regarded as very private—bedrooms, toilets, kitchens, decks, and yards—are transformed into special studios. In Figure 5, a young Tavi Gevinson photographed herself on the deck of her house. This particular photo is among the first ones she posted when she started blogging at the age of 11. The use of kitchens and dining rooms as an aesthetic space is also prevalent in Instagram. Here,
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 8 of 18 As the everyday space of “house” appeared as the main location for Instagram shoots, spaces that used to be regarded as very private—bedrooms, toilets, kitchens, decks, and yards—are transformed into special studios. In Figure 5, a young Tavi Gevinson photographed herself on the deck of her house. This particular photo is among the first ones she posted when she started blogging at the age of 11. The use of kitchens and dining rooms as an aesthetic space is also prevalent in Instagram. Here, in Figure 6, Lau is drinking coffee in a very café-like dining area. The bathroom is also always one of the popular spaces presenting one’s self-image fashionably. In Figure 7, Gevinson calls her reflected image “pants and shower curtain and life.” Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 17 Sustainability 2020, Sustainability 2020, 12, 12, xx FOR FOR PEER PEER REVIEW REVIEW 88 of of 17 17 Figure Figure 5.Eleven-year-old 5. 5. Figure 5. Eleven-year-oldGevinson Eleven-year-old Gevinson on Gevinson on aaa house on house deck house deck (second (second photo (second photo photo in photoin in the inthe slideshow). theslideshow). the Reference: slideshow).Reference: slideshow). Reference: Reference: Figure Eleven-year-old Gevinson on a house deck (second https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ (accessed (accessed (accessed on on on 15 15 15 March March March 2019). 2019). 2019). https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ (accessed on 15 March 2019). Figure 6. Figure 6. Lau Lau in in aa dining dining room. room. Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/2yAJ7PKar3/ https://www.instagram.com/p/2yAJ7PKar3/ (assessed (assessed on on Figure Lau 6. 6. Figure inina dining Lau a diningroom. room.Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/2yAJ7PKar3/ (assessed https://www.instagram.com/p/2yAJ7PKar3/ (assessed onon 27 27 March March 2019). 2019). 27 27 March 2019). March 2019). Figure 7. Figure 7. Gevinson Gevinson in in aa toilet. toilet. Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/4GndyBG_TC/ https://www.instagram.com/p/4GndyBG_TC/ (accessed (accessed on on Figure Figure 7. 7. Gevinsoninin Gevinson a atoilet. toilet.Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/4GndyBG_TC/ https://www.instagram.com/p/4GndyBG_TC/ (accessed onon (accessed 15 March 15 March 2019). 2019). 15 15 March March 2019). 2019). Instagrammers set Instagrammers set the the latest latest trends trends of of eating eating and and drinking drinking alone alone in in aa relaxed relaxed and and stylish stylish manner. manner. Instagrammers Instagrammers setthe set thelatest latesttrends trends of of eating eating and drinking andanddrinking alone alonein ina arelaxed relaxedand stylish and manner. stylish manner. Such Such posts seemingly posts seemingly encourage encourage followers followers to admire to admire and enjoy their enjoy their own own leisure leisure time. time. The The same same can can Such Such postsseemingly posts seeminglyencourage encourage followers followers totoadmire admireandandenjoy enjoytheir ownown their leisure time.time. leisure The same The can same be said be said with said with maintaining with maintaining fashionable maintaining fashionable appearances fashionable appearances appearances in in otherwise in otherwise common otherwise common circumstances common circumstances circumstances suchsuch as such as as canbebe said walking a with dog, maintaining grocery fashionable shopping, or going appearances to school in (Figure otherwise 8). This is common because circumstances the moments such captured as walking aa dog, walking dog, grocery grocery shopping, shopping, or or going going to to school school (Figure (Figure 8).8). This This is is because because the the moments moments captured captured walking a dog, grocery on Instagram, Instagram, shopping, as aa routine routine or going of everyday everyday tocan life, school (Figure be seen seen as aa8). This is because “festivalized” the moments moment. In other captured other words, words, on on Instagram, asas a routine of of life, everyday life, can be can be seen asas “festivalized” a “festivalized” moment. moment. In In other words, Instagram provides Instagram provides a space space toto transform transform thethe everyday everyday ordinary ordinary into into the the extraordinary, extraordinary, even even into into Instagram provides aa space to transform the everyday ordinary into the extraordinary, even into one’s ideal one’s ideal image. image. one’s ideal image.
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 9 of 18 on Instagram, as a routine of everyday life, can be seen as a “festivalized” moment. In other words, Instagram provides a space to transform the everyday ordinary into the extraordinary, even into one’s ideal image. Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 17 Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 17 Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 17 Figure Figure 8. Gevinson 8. Gevinson going going to to school.Reference: school. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ub078am_aY/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Ub078am_aY/ (accessed (accessed on 15 March on 15 March 2019).2019). Figure 8. Gevinson going to school. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ub078am_aY/ (accessed Figure 8. Gevinson going to school. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ub078am_aY/ (accessed SuchSuch posts can on 15 March 2019). posts on 15 March alsoalso can 2019). be be a means of unearthing the alienated parts of everyday life. Bloggers Lau a means of unearthing the alienated parts of everyday life. Bloggers Lau and Ferragni showed that fashion can be produced, even in situations where women’s fashion is and Ferragni showed Such posts that caninalso fashion be a means can be produced, even in situations where women’s fashion is alienated, such as Such posts pregnancy can also be a meansand of of unearthing child care. In the unearthing alienated Figure the parts dons 9, Ferragni alienated of everyday a casuallife. parts of everyday andBloggers life. funky look: Bloggers Lau Lau alienated, and mini such asshowed Ferragni satin dress, in apregnancy and child that trucker, denim fashion can becare. In Figure produced, even 9,in Ferragni situations dons a pairwhere a casual women’s and funky fashion is look: and Ferragni showed that fashion polka-dot mesh stockings, can be produced, even in andsituations of black where Dr. Martens. women’s fashion Heris mini alienated, satin stylish dress,such looksuch a denim as is a as in stark trucker, pregnancy contrast with polka-dot and child mesh care. In stockings, Figure 9, and Ferragni a pair dons aof black casual Dr. and Martens. funky look: Her alienated, in pregnancy andthe typecast child care. Inaccorded Figure 9, to Ferragni pregnantdonswomen. Lau’sand a casual post of herself funky look: stylish look mini wearing mini satin isa metallic, satin adress, starkacontrast denimpink dress, a sheer with denim trucker,top the trucker, and typecast polka-dot mesh sunglasses polka-dot mesh accorded asstockings, to pregnant stockings, and aher she breastfeeds pairwomen. of black and a pairchild of black Lau’s Dr. (Figure Dr.10) post ofHer Martens. echoes Martens. herself that Her stylish wearing of a look is Even metallic, Ferragni’s. asheer stark contrast pink during top with timesand the when typecast sunglasses fashion accorded as may shebe to pregnant breastfeeds timid and herwomen. child passive, both Lau’s (Figure postspost 10) of herself echoes celebrate that of the stylish look is a stark contrast with the typecast accorded to pregnant women. Lau’s post of herself wearing natural Ferragni’s. a metallic, changes Even in during sheer female’s timespink whentop fashion bodies. and In sunglasses this way, may astimid fashion be sheimages breastfeeds and her both expressed passive, child on (Figure the social posts 10) echoes platform celebrate thethat emit natural wearing a metallic, sheer pink top and sunglasses as she breastfeeds her child (Figure 10) echoes that of Ferragni’s. everyday Even desire from during In times when a preconceived fashionimages routine, may beexpressed timiddesire and passive, both posts celebrate thea changes in female’s of Ferragni’s. bodies. Even during this timesway, when fashionwhether fashion may be thattimid andon isthe beauty social passive, forplatform both the sake posts of it, everyday emit celebrate orthe natural festival changes and a in female’s restorative forbodies. In this everyday way,tofashion energy penetrateimages a expressed pre-given on the social platform emit reality. desirenatural from achanges in female’s preconceived bodies.whether routine, In this way,thatfashion desireimages is beauty expressed for theon the social sake platform of it, or a festivalemitand a everyday desire from a preconceived routine, whether that desire is beauty for the sake of it, or a everyday restorative for desire everyday fromenergy a preconceived to penetrateroutine, whether that a pre-given desire is beauty for the sake of it, or a reality. festival and a restorative for everyday energy to penetrate a pre-given reality. festival and a restorative for everyday energy to penetrate a pre-given reality. Figure 9. A pregnant Ferragni. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCOGQMDE-o/ (accessed on 8 March 2019). Figure 9. A9. A pregnant pregnant Ferragni.Reference: Ferragni. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCOGQMDE-o/ (accessed Figure Figure 9. A pregnant Ferragni. Reference:https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCOGQMDE-o/ (accessed https://www.instagram.com/p/BgCOGQMDE-o/ (accessed on 8 March 2019). on 8 March 2019). on 8 March 2019). Figure 10. Lau breastfeeding. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlmSZUlGgw/ (accessed on 27 March 2019). Figure 10. Lau breastfeeding. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlmSZUlGgw/ (accessed on FigureLau 10. Lau breastfeeding. breastfeeding. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlmSZUlGgw/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlmSZUlGgw/ (accessed on on Figure27 10. 4.2. The Artification March 2019). 27 March 2019). of EverydayReference: Life (accessed 27 March 2019). In Lefebvre’s 4.2. The Artificationtheory of cultural of Everyday Life revolution [21], the full reconstruction of concepts such as work, 4.2. The Artification creation, of Everyday Life style, value, and human existence are necessary [19] (p. 348). His freedom, appropriation, In Lefebvre’s theory of cultural revolution [21], the full reconstruction of concepts such as work, In Lefebvre’s theory of cultural revolution [21], the full reconstruction of concepts such as work, creation, freedom, appropriation, style, value, and human existence are necessary [19] (p. 348). His creation, freedom, appropriation, style, value, and human existence are necessary [19] (p. 348). His
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 10 of 18 4.2. The Artification of Everyday Life In Lefebvre’s theory of cultural revolution [21], the full reconstruction of concepts such as work, Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 17 creation, freedom, appropriation, style, value, and human existence are necessary [19] (p. 348). His posit, “Let the everyday become a work,” no longer refers to an artistic object. Instead, it is to know posit, “Let the everyday become a work,” no longer refers to an artistic object. Instead, it is to know and understand oneself, to set their own conditions and express them as such with their bodies, desires, and understand oneself, to set their own conditions and express them as such with their bodies, time, and desires, spaces. time, This is This and spaces. artification as appropriation: is artification the actthe as appropriation: ofact becoming one’sone’s of becoming own own artwork [21] artwork (p. 355–356). [21] (p. 355–356). Aesthetics in spatiality are linked to the aesthetics of everyday life. Aestheticizing the emotional Aesthetics in spatiality are linked to the aesthetics of everyday life. Aestheticizing the emotional circulation of everyday humans through reinforcement of the aesthetic function of the everyday spatial circulation of everyday humans through reinforcement of the aesthetic function of the everyday environment, means liberating the lifestyle of the masses with flexibility, diversity, and solidarity. spatial environment, means liberating the lifestyle of the masses with flexibility, diversity, and However, these solidarity. aesthetic However, values these are no aesthetic longerare values carried out bycarried no longer privileged out by or professional privileged orartists but are professional permeated into the daily life and space of ordinary people to improve the quality of life in general [24]. artists but are permeated into the daily life and space of ordinary people to improve the quality of In the case of Instagram, it is a medium accessible to everyone but begins in private. The general public life in general [24]. In the case of Instagram, it is a medium accessible to everyone but begins in can traceThe private. the general lifestylepublic of an influencer can trace theas iflifestyle it were of a diary, capturing an influencer as their past,apresent, if it were and futuretheir diary, capturing via visual images and videos. past, present, and future via visual images and videos. In Figure 11, Lau is seen lying down on a handmade boucherouite rug, wearing a waterfall knit In Figure 11, Lau is seen lying down on a handmade boucherouite rug, wearing a waterfall knit by JW Anderson that matches the rug’s design on her Instagram (@susiebubble). The rug and her by JW Anderson that matches the rug’s design on her Instagram (@susiebubble). The rug and her knit knit artistically meld into each other, making Lau look as if she were part of a single piece of artwork artistically meld into each other, making Lau look as if she were part of a single piece of artwork itself. In itself. In aa similar similar manner, manner, Gevinson’s Gevinson’s post post ofof herself herself as as a a Cabbage Cabbage PatchPatch Kid Kid with with creepy creepy doll-like doll-like lips painted over her own and posing under some plants in her garden (Figure 12), can be taken lips painted over her own and posing under some plants in her garden (Figure 12), can be taken as as an example of how one artificate themselves. In this example, artification occurs with Gevinson an example of how one artificate themselves. In this example, artification occurs with Gevinson pretending pretending to to be be aa doll, doll, photographed photographed in in aa space space depicting depicting everyday everyday life.life. Figure 11. 11. Lau lying Lau down lying on aon down boucherouite rug. Reference: a boucherouite https://www.instagram.com/ rug. Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/ p/xKpg3HKahd/ xKpg3HKahd/ (accessed (accessed onon 2727 March March 2019). 2019). Figure 12. Gevinson Figure 12. Gevinson pretending pretending to to be be aa Cabbage Cabbage Patch Patch Kid Kid (first (first photo photo in in slideshow). slideshow). Reference: Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ (accessed on 15 March https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWSd6MBIWr/ (accessed on 15 March 2019). 2019). Instagrammers also utilize multiple digital and visual techniques to express themselves; they are not limited limitedtotomaterial materialresources resourcesinin digital space. digital Fashion space. images Fashion on Instagram images make on Instagram everyday make life look everyday life like art, expressing it as an imaginary or virtual image that transcends everyday life. For instance, Figure look like art, expressing it as an imaginary or virtual image that transcends everyday life. For instance, 13 shows Lau in a pale pink dress with a haze of pink clouds behind her. In her post, she captioned it as “A morning of milk vom and poonami means I’ve momentarily escaped into a haze of pink clouds.” Gevinson has a similar post (Figure 14) of herself in a dress with a floating UFO print. Here, Gevinson captions the post as “being a prepubescent alien.” This is backed by what Suh and Kim [8] (p. 134) discussed that dreams and imagination are inspirations for the imaginary self, and that social media
Sustainability 2020, 12, 1979 11 of 18 Figure 13 shows Lau in a pale pink dress with a haze of pink clouds behind her. In her post, she captioned it as “A morning of milk vom and poonami means I’ve momentarily escaped into a haze of pink clouds.” Gevinson has a similar post (Figure 14) of herself in a dress with a floating UFO print. Here, Gevinson captions the post as “being a prepubescent alien.” This is backed by what Suh Sustainability 2020, Sustainability 2020, 12, 12, xx FOR FOR PEER PEER REVIEW REVIEW 11 of 11 of 17 17 and Kim [8] (p. 134) discussed that dreams and imagination are inspirations for the imaginary self, and is that social is aa virtual virtual space space media where where is it a can it virtual can space where be realized. be realized. Anditadvanced And can be realized. advanced And advanced digital technologies, digital technologies, digital such such technologies, as visual as visual literacy, literacy, such as visual contribute to contribute literacy, to the the artistic contribute artistic creation creation ofto the artistic of Instagram’s creation Instagram’s visual of Instagram’s visual images. images. visual images. Figure 13. Figure 13. Lau 13.Lau with with Lau pinkpink pink with clouds clouds as aa backdrop. as clouds backdrop. Reference:Reference: Reference: as a backdrop. https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.instagram.com/p/ p/BRqkRHblH9i/ p/BRqkRHblH9i/ BRqkRHblH9i/ (accessed (accessed (accessed on onon 27 2727 March March March 2019). 2019). 2019). Figure 14. Figure Figure 14. Gevinson 14. Gevinson pretending Gevinsonpretending aa prepubescent pretending prepubescent a prepubescentalien. alien. Reference: Reference: alien. https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/ p/BM72ELtDHod/ p/BM72ELtDHod/ (accessed (accessed on on 15 15 March March BM72ELtDHod/ (accessed on 15 March 2019).2019). 2019). 4.3. The 4.3. The Holistic Holistic Stylization Stylization of of Everyday Life Everyday Life For Lefebvre, For Lefebvre, cultural cultural revolution revolution refers refers to to the the transformation transformation of of the the outside outside world world as as well well as as everyday life life to to create create aa new, new, holistic holistic lifestyle lifestyle [42]. [42]. HeHe emphasized emphasized the everyday life to create a new, holistic lifestyle [42]. He emphasized the symbolic value of the “whole” thesymbolic symbolic value value of the of “whole” the “whole” as a complex, as aa complex, as linking complex, linking from linking from the smallest from the tool the smallest smallest toolto the tool togreatest to the works the greatest of greatest worksart and works of learning of art art and [21] (p. and learning 8). learning [21] “Everyday [21] (p. (p. 8). 8). artwork” “Everyday “Everyday isartwork” a culturalis artwork” isrevolution culturalthat aa cultural refers tothat revolution revolution the refers that creation refers of theculture to the to creation creation as of a lifestyle of culture as culture [21]. In other[21]. as aa lifestyle lifestyle words, [21]. In In Lefebvre’s other words, cultural Lefebvre’s revolution cultural is the reclamation revolution is the of style reclamation and ofwork style other words, Lefebvre’s cultural revolution is the reclamation of style and work created by one’s whole created and work by one’s created whole by being one’s whole [2] (p. being being3). [2] Instagram [2] (p. 3). (p. expresses the 3). Instagram Instagram variousthe expresses expresses daily the desires various various through daily daily desires desiresfashion—a through visual through fashion—a fashion—amedium.visual visual Influencers medium. medium. form visually Influencers Influencers unique form form identities visually visually unique uniquethrough their through identities identities fashion tastes through their and their lifestyles. fashion fashion tastes This tastes and means and establishing lifestyles. lifestyles. This means This meansthe holistic stylization establishing the establishing of the holistic everyday holistic stylization life stylization of through of everyday one’s everyday life fashion life through image. through one’s one’s fashion fashion image. image. In Figure In Figure 15, 15, Lau’s Lau’s signature signature signature bangsbangs and and top-knot, including her top-knot, including top-knot, her clutch clutch printed printed with with herher name name (SUSIE!), define her style identity. identity. Her other posts often depict such (SUSIE!), define her style identity. Her other posts often depict such identity; for example, Figure 16 identity; for example, Figure 16 isis a collage of Lau’s collage of Lau’s a collage unique Lau’s unique street unique street style street style style as as a global as aa global fashion global fashion influencer. fashion influencer. Ferragni influencer. Ferragni became known Ferragni became known for her for her signature motif signature motif“a motif “awinking “a winkingeye winking eyewith eye withlong with long long lashes,” lashes,” lashes,” and and andeven eveneven launched launched launched a whole aa whole whole collection collection collection of aa of of shoe shoea shoe and and bag label featuring such design (Figure 17). She similarly showcases her jet-setter lifestyle as a globala and bag bag label label featuring featuring such such design design (Figure (Figure 17). 17). She She similarlysimilarly showcasesshowcases her her jet-setter jet-setter lifestyle lifestyle as a as global global influencer influencerinfluencer (Figure 18). (Figure (Figure 18). Figure Figure18).19 19Figure shows 19 shows shows updating Gevinson Gevinson Gevinsonher updating updating her style in style her this style in this in this dressing dressing room room dressing post, as post, asroom most most post, as most influencers influencers doinfluencers do on aa daily on do daily basis. on Her basis. a daily Her basis. Her published published published collection collection collection of articles, of articles, of articles, interviews, interviews, photo photointerviews, editorials, editorials, photo and and illustrations (Figure illustrations (Figure 20) 20) from from thethe now-closed now-closed online online magazine, magazine, Rookie,Rookie, cancan bebe seen seen as as the the penultimate penultimate example of example of the the holistic holistic stylization stylization of of everyday everyday life. life. Both Both style style book book andand magazine magazine depict depict Gevinson’s Gevinson’s signature style but recreated with the purpose of influencing signature style but recreated with the purpose of influencing the lifestyle of the teenager. the lifestyle of the teenager.
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