Join students in the MFA Design Criticism Department on Wednesday, November 16 at 6pm at the Bumble and Bumble Theater (415 West 13 Street, New York City) as they celebrate the release of their D-Crit Chapbook #2: Dress. The second installment of this series turns a humorous eye on the fashion choices of public figures in the world of pop culture. Alan Rapp ponders Metallica frontman James Hetfield’s “bogus descent to Armani-toting sellout,” while Stephanie Jönsson critiques the wardrobe of Pope Benedict XVI. Eleven essays in all, with illustrations by Peter Arkle. Below is an excerpt from “Dora the Explorer” by Saundra Marcel:
. . . One great thing about fictional characters is that they never have to grow up. Real-life pop princess Miley Cyrus, at age 18, faces the battle of balancing her emerging sexuality (and drug experimentation) with her girl-next-door image, but cartoon-animated Dora won’t ever have to reveal womanly curves. She can imperviously continue to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles in a happy-go-lucky fabricated world.
But we should have known a makeover was around the corner. After 10 years of success as a positive role model for young girls, the squeaky-clean explorer has adopted a controversial new image. In December 2009, Mattel launched a toy called Dora Links, a plastic 12-inch-tall doll controlled by . . .
To order a copy of D-Crit Chapbook #2: Dress, click here.
