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I really like this one! I have a meeting with Jennifer tomorrow to talk about my writing for the Big Idea Award, but I’ll see how she likes this as my title+heading

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It’s been fun making book covers with stuff in my closet!

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I know that it’s probably a little too soon to be thinking about the cover, but I was bored and designed some ideas 

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Acquiring Supplies

I ordered my printing paper and book binding materials this week! In addition, I am going into the darkroom tomorrow to test out developing color film. 

Although I could technically carry out my interviews and shoots this week (because it could be considered “research”), I probably won't do too many this week because of the shutdown. In the meantime, I am going to practice book binding by making a ‘trial book’ with the roll of test film I’m developing tomorrow!

This week, I will also start developing the 5 rolls of individuals I’ve already used.

I should probably start going through the transcribed quotes, but we’ll see. Right after each shoot, I try to write about my subjective experience about going to their house when it’s fresh in my mind. 

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Film acquired!! It’s best to store it in the fridge, so don't mind my apricots in the background. 

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I am really grateful for Ali Shapiro and Jennifer Metsker; Ali helped me realize that I should just focus on Gen Z, and Jennifer helped me finalize my interview questions. Both of them recognize that it’s ok to keep my conversations loose and ask follow-up questions that might not be formally written down. 

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Lots and Lots of Updates+Thoughts

Ok! So we are startin’ up second semester.

The biggest change to my project is that I’m focusing in on Gen Z, and I’m just going to interview/photograph people within that population. 

I feel really good about this change, because from a practical standpoint, I can easily walk to students’ homes in Ann Arbor (instead of using my dad’s car for a weekend or two to interview+photograph Baby Boomers). In addition, building the “cultural gap” seemed kind of vague to the IP panelists in my review, and I too started to wonder what I was trying to ultimately showcase. 

I’ve started interviewing/photographing people that I know, and it’s been pretty good so far! Everyone I’ve reached out to has enthusiastically agreed to participate, so that’s nice. 

After doing two interviews+shoots back to back, I learned that I should clear up a lot of time for each interview+shoot, because I don't really know how long certain conversations will take or where they’ll go. Sure, I have a list of interview questions that address thrifting, sentimentality, vintage clothing, etc. but I think I’m more focused and relaxed when I know I can stay for as long as they're willing to have me. 

Another small thing that I noticed about my film camera is that it unfortunately acts up when I shoot outside in freezing temperatures. Although I have been having my subjects do a few shots outside, they're usually comfortable with me coming inside (usually to their rooms) to take more photos and interview them there. 

Just to clarify, I have my mask on at all times, and I have been getting tested 2-3 times a week. I’ve noticed how awkward it is to facilitate conversations with masks on and safely conduct these in-person shoots under COVID restrictions. During the majority of these meetings+shoots, my subjects are wearing their masks, but are conformable to take them off for photos. 

One thing about my project is that I really want it to appear timeless. Addressing COVID into this project would be a whole layer added to this book. Maybe my subjects wearing/not wearing masks is something that I can talk to with professors. 

Another variable I’m thinking about is when I ask how people have adopted the tradition of thrifting or finding second-hand clothes, peoples’ answers have differed. One person started thrifting with their “hipstery” friends in high school, while another started to ask their mom for her old clothes. I wonder if just peoples’ quotes will be enough written content for my book, or like Miranda July’s It Chooses you, I’ll also write my own subjective spin on the experience of going to their houses/apartments and talking to them. 

In addition to my subjects and their clothes, I’ve also been documenting the interiors of each person’s home. I love how their spaces explicitly (and implicitly) showcase what they like/what influences them. 

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For my final RC photo project, I decided to practice interviewing and documenting my friends’ selected pieces of second-hand clothing. During the final critique, I received some very insightful advice, including the different ways in which I can photograph my subjects. 

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Questions for young people

Pick a second-hand wearable

Why do you think you picked this?

Do you think that you like to wear clothes from the past? Why?

Do you think that people your age generally consume second-hand clothes? Why/why not?

If you could go back to the time that your piece of clothing was made, would you? Why/why not?

Are you the original owner? If not, do you know who owned it before you?

Does this have sentimental value to you?

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Interviews/Research findings

I have started interviewing college/grad student-aged people!

Each of them are picking one wearable that they own and answering my questions: "what did you pick?," "Do you know who the original owner is?" "How did you obtain this?," etc.

One person chose a hat and answered that it used to be owned by a relative who passed away, another person talked about thrifting a sweater in London when they graduated from highschool.

However, this two-fold set of answers: some stories are about family passing items down vs. the act of consuming second had clothes/its implications of retro aesteics, etc. is leaving me in a quandary with refining my interview questions.

In Rochelle DuFord's “An Expanded Conception of Sentimental Value," DeFord states, "sentimental value comes about because objects are choice-worthy by virtue of the relationship they have a) to us in our past, b) to an important historical event, or c) to someone of importance to ourselves in the past.”

With this being said, I realize that items of old clothing remind us of our past selves, and sentimentality will most likely be an overarching theme with both the young and elderly populations.

However, I think that I first want to ask young people about their interest in retro clothing. One question could be "Why do you like/choose to wear clothing from the past?" Then if it comes with a sentimental story, I can have sub-questions relating to sentimentality.

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I’ve written out lots of ideas (50 bullets? who’s to say) with mapping out my project! Each component to my project has ideas that stem off onto different plans

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Updated Research Question

How can conversations about vintage clothing bridge the cultural understanding between youths’ culture and elders’ nostalgia?

Sub-Questions:

How do Gen Zers attain vintage clothing?

How can I encourage people to think about stories about their past through clothing?

How have artists and writers showcased stories about clothing?

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Practicing portraiture on my 35mm film camera! I plan to use a medium format camera with color film for my final IP project

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Feedback from Meeting+Planning Next Steps

If I interview students on campus, that will fulfill youth culture.. Maybe my stepsister in highschool

But for older generation, I am thinking about brining analog camera equipment to Florida over our extended winter break and conducting interviews with my grandparents+their friends/members of the elderly community. I will need to make sure I can send in my film and have it on color film for consistency... Nick said consistent portraiture will be important too

Thanksgiving Break: interview 2-3 old people and 2-3 Zoomers

Let them be flexible with what they pick as the clothing. If they have a photo available, put that in there. And if they don't have the clothing, then find photos online. But I will make sure I will get their portrait taken.

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Another idea for a research question

How can vintage clothing bridge the cultural understanding between Gen Z's pop-culture and Baby Boomers’ nostalgia?? 

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Potential Interview Questions

Pick an article of clothing from the past

What made you choose this?

What is the story behind it?

Why do you value this?

Do you know how old this is?

Do you know who owned it before you?

Do you have any ties to the previous owner?

If you could go back to the time that this article of clothing was produced, would you?

Why do you think it’s popular to wear vintage clothing nowadays?

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IP Thoughts

How can I build the bridge of fashion/cultural understanding of nostalgia+pop culture between Gen Z/youth culture and Baby Boomers/older generation??