C8: Clothes

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Clothing considerations

- How much time do we spend shopping for clothes?
How does it take us to chose what to wear?
Why does it matter so much?

- Ask your audience to add up the cost of one of their favorite outfits. Or ask them how much their entire wardrobe is worth? It can be embarrassing to pick on individuals but rough figures can be suggested. The answers can be very revealing.

- Ask a few participants what are the three things that matter the most when they are choosing what clothes to buy. How many of these are practical and functional, and how many are to do with fashion and image?

- Use the clothing 'comments' (or make up your own) to discuss our attitudes to what we wear.

Lessons from the Garden

- Tell the story in an unusual way to highlight the clothing angle. Maybe do it as a funny fashion write up: Eve, in a stunning little 'fig leaf' number, was very conscious of her look. She felt the need to accessorize... Or even a glitzy TV soap: Adam had always been a solid member of the Eden Corporation but recently he'd bitten off more than he could chew. Having invested in Apple systems he was a little worried how the Boss was going to react. Were his days at the firm numbered...?

- Read out the relevant parts of the story directly from the Torah (Genesis 2:25-3:24) Make sure that you have a clear and modern translation (e.g. The Living Torah, Aryeh Kaplan). Then brainstorm with your audience what they think is the message of the story. Explain the centrality of clothing here.

Becoming separate individuals

- The gaining of individuality is a deep issue. Our own lives mirror the story of Adam and Eve. We too begin our lives in comfort and security: All the needs of babies and toddlers are taken care of and they feel safe in their surroundings. With growing up comes tension and alienation. Teenage rebellion and teenage angst are a normal part of life. They are somewhat necessary for achieving independence of personality and spirit. So, in a way, growing up is like eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Use these parallels to discuss the importance of individuality and how we consciously and unconsciously achieve it.

Leaving the Garden

- At teenagers begin to find their own way in life, they become more independent and mature and they become more clothes conscious too. Again this parallels the story of Adam and Eve. What is the equivalent of leaving the Garden of Eden for a modern teenager?

Fashion

- Try and get hold of some magazine cut outs of 60s and 70s fashions. Show them to your audience to prompt a discussion on the speed at which fashions come and go.

- Fashion discussion points: "Everything gets credible if you wait long enough; one generation's cringe is another's kitsch cult classic" (Ben Elton, Popcorn) But does the fact that a fashion style can make a come back mean that it's any longer lasting than it was the first time around? Is there anything permanent in fashion?

Uniforms

- Debate the importance of school uniforms. Make sure there are good arguments for both sides. Are they like army or prison uniforms?

- Ice breaker: Calvin Klein, Kangol, Levis, Dior, Champion, Reebok, Nike, Gap, Joe Bloggs and Adidas are ten famous designer labels. Could you name ten Kings of Israel as easily? How about ten books of the Bible? Draw up a two column chart on the board and ask your audience to call out designer labels and books of the Bible. Which column fills out quickest? After a minute or two, which is the longest? Refer to these lists during your programme.

- You'll notice that any discussion of stereotypes will always dwell on what they wear. Every stereotype has a kind of 'uniform'. Find some examples of this to use in a programme about the tremendous importance we attach to our clothing.

Some Jewish attitudes

- Ask your audience what they think the Jewish attitude is towards wearing different kinds of clothing. If they don't know then explain. Then ask why they think these are the attitudes.

Images & Curses

- Do an fashion speak impression of a modern image consultant who comments and criticises every aspect of an unsuspecting client. Can a person manufacture their image? How real are they then?

- Do a fashion speak impression of a catwalk compare as an introduction to the drug problems in the fashion industry: This year the overall theme of the collections - haute couture and ready to wear - is romance. Throw the world away and dance in 30 metres of tulle, courtesy of Dior. Or slink into a filament of black cocktail lace from Chanel. Wendy here is in a loquacious YSL jacket...

Clothes and death

- Bring these ideas into your programme to highlight the importance of clothing even in death. (Don't discuss these issues if you know of any member of your audience who has recently suffered a bereavement.)

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