Class Response Post for 11/4

I completely agree with the points Hope brought up about the whole style and power issue, especially because it is so unconsciously relevant in this day and age. The concept of style has developed into a concept of hegemony. We establish and unconsciously position people on a certain level in a class hierarchy, which is determined through their clothing and accessories. The idea of the caste system comes into my mind when we think of style. Those people who are able to wear the expensive designers and can afford the luxurious bags are portrayed as higher up in the hierarchy in terms of class. This whole notion of plays off our societies ideology of “bigger, better, faster” by saying we must have more money and more expensive items and in this sense the most expensive style.
The idea of the designer bags and clothes relating to our status and power in society plays into the concept of the real. Companies are demonstrating the notion of intertexuality by producing items that are as close to the original product as possible. For example, Louis Vuitton bags are one of the most expensive bags to purchase, however, more and more companies are coming out with bags that replicate the Louis Vuitton monogram for much less money. Forever 21 is using this concept as well by replicating a number of designers original clothing and tweaking them the tiniest bit to make them a little different but they are essentially the same. The notion of authenticity is questioned in these types of markets because essentially the companies who are charging a ridiculous amount of money for certain style products are losing that power that places them higher on our social hierarchy.