Simmel and Fashion According to Simmel fashion serves the purpose of identifying social groups. More specifically, it serves the purpose of both demarcating social position, and serves as an identifier for those within the demarcated social positions. According to Simmel fashion serves the purpose of identifying social groups. More specifically, it serves the purpose of both demarcating social position, and serves as an identifier for those within the demarcated social positions.

Fashion is merely a product of social demands, even though the individual object which it creates or recreates may represent a more or less individual need. Fashion is merely a product of social demands, even though the individual object which it creates or recreates may represent a more or less individual need. This, for Simmel, is why fashion changes for no apparent reason yet it changes in the same way for large groups of people This, for Simmel, is why fashion changes for no apparent reason yet it changes in the same way for large groups of people

He goes on to describe what will later be termed by marketers as trend setters He goes on to describe what will later be termed by marketers as trend setters The only motivations with which fashion is concerned are formal social ones. The reason why even asthetically impossible styles seem … elegant and artistically tolerable… is that they affected by persons who are generally the most elegant and pay the greatest attention to their personal appearance… The only motivations with which fashion is concerned are formal social ones. The reason why even asthetically impossible styles seem … elegant and artistically tolerable… is that they affected by persons who are generally the most elegant and pay the greatest attention to their personal appearance… Of course, its the higher social positions that dictate the course of fashion trends. Of course, its the higher social positions that dictate the course of fashion trends.

For our 4 theorists: What are their conceptions of the progress of society from primitive to modern? For our 4 theorists: What are their conceptions of the progress of society from primitive to modern? What is the effect of this march toward modernity on society? On the individuals residing within these societies? (alienation, anomie, the iron cage, etc.)? What is the effect of this march toward modernity on society? On the individuals residing within these societies? (alienation, anomie, the iron cage, etc.)? How did these theorists view religion? What role does it play in modern society? How did these theorists view religion? What role does it play in modern society?

MarxDurkehimWeberSimmel History Class conflict mode of production More complex division of labor Increase in beuocracy More groups less contact Society Haves v. have-nots Needs norms (rules) 3 separate yet related hierarchie s Compri sed of types interacti on is the key Religion Like a drug Necessary componen t of society Influence s mode of productio n Doesnt say much