My Reflection on the extract from Paul Jobling’s book Fashion Spreads: Word and Image in Fashion Pho

1. Can you write a one-sentence summary of the main argument/ arguments presented by Jobling in this extract?

Fashion photography and advertising can change the way we see designer, models, garments, it can communicate and represent new way of looking into certain clothes, designers, etc.

2. Do you agree that, in many cases, ‘fashion photography has either little or nothing to do with clothing’?

I think nowadays it all about selling the product, so most of the time use brand name all over the photo, you see super famous model or celebrity, and they become centre of attention more then clothing. But it still makes you buy the products of the brand, so it does its work, fashion photography became advertising and marketing business then form of art.

3. Can you find an example of a fashion spread in a magazine that highlights the symbolic nature of fashion, rather than the material clothes it portrays?

4a. Do you think that fashion photography is taken less seriously than art photography?

I think is taken less seriously by art photographers because it is more pop-cultural, and it is more popular, there are a lot of fashion magazines, fashion photographers, street style photographers because there is more work for them. But the public just want to see beautiful things and be entertained, most of the times is does not care who does that – fashion or art photography. It feels the same relationship like television and theatre has.

4b. Why do you think this is?

The more popular thing is always treated as less serious, easier, mainstream and not as good as the roots, like art photography or theatre. I think jealousy of money, fame and attention also contributes to this relationship.