For our location of choice, we chose to research the Camden Market, a London district that is known for its many large retail markets and food stalls within the area. It is definitely a London must see with total immersion and its quirky atmosphere. When taking pictures of some of Camden Market's people and places, we noticed that parts of the market had its own distinct characteristics. People had very different types of dress styles and the exterior and artwork of the buildings was something that was very different from the other districts of London that I've been to so far.
One of the philosophical theories that I thought was very accurate to the people's clothing style at the market was Immanuel Kant's. Kant's philosophical theory, also known as Kantianism states that people should conform to moral law that has to do with respect for others and allows individuals to make choices for themselves. He also states that everyone has their own value and no one should ever be lied to, manipulated, used or dehumanized (Salazar 5/27/15).
As a person who believes in respect for others, I completely agree with this theory. People should not be judged or ridiculed about what they believe in or in this case what they were. People's fashion choice can sometimes be a method of asserting theirselves in society.
I was able to see Kant’s theory come into play at the market as well. The fashion choices of people in Camden Lock derived from Hipster and Punk Rock influences. Many of their fashion styles consisted of leather jackets, plaid or bright colored clothing, and tattoos or piercings. While these particular styles may not be very relevant to what most of us would wear, everybody in the market was still respected and accepted for what they wore. On a side note we also noted that while there were diverse clothing styles among the people who occupied Camden market, many of them could be seen in the same locations together. It showed how there was no tension between the different types of groups like the hipsters and punk rockers and everybody could easily get along.
While Kant does promote the idea that people should be respected for the choices that they make, he does make a strong argument about taste and fashion. Kant states that “Fashion is not properly a matter of taste (for it may be extremely antagonistic to taste), but a matter of mere vanity in order to appear distinguished, and a matter of competition in order to surpass others in it” (Salazar, 5/24/15). I find Kant’s argument very reasonable and believe that we should still maintain respectable, if not professional, images for ourselves if we are to be seen as well-respected members of society. In contrast, while Kantianism is a very good philosophical view that explains the fashion choices of Camden Market, Kant would mostly likely disagree with their taste in fashion.
This plays into how we identified various social groups within the area. The punk rockers and hipsters usually tended to stick together in groups, most likely because they share similar views and interests. The fact that people actually associate their selves in certain groups can relate to the aspect of conformity along with providing support and meaning. While this may relate along the lines of sociology, people will usually feel safer or more comfortable when they can find an individual or a group of people that share the same background or characteristics as them. It is also easier for them to go to groups that they associate themselves with if they feel that no one else understands them. This has to do with the side of Liberation and the side of Alienation comes from the fact that they would feel distant with people who do not associate their selves with any of these social groups.
There is another philosophical which is not from our class lectures, but is mentioned in Elizabeth Wilson’s work, Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity, which comes from Thorstein Veblen. Veblen argued that conspicuous waste accounted for change in fashion, but he also believed in a “native taste”, which relates to some kind of essential good taste, to which conspicuous wastefulness was actually abhorrent. It is abhorrent, he argued, because it is a ‘psychological law’ that we ‘abhor futility’- and to Veblen the stylistic oddities of fashion were manifestly futile (Wilson p 52)”. Veblen’s ideals apply to the market since there are multiple different kinds of stores. Some of the stores sell uncomfortable things like corsets and high heels, while some sell cozy t-shirts and sweat pants. This variety in choices allows each individual to choose which fashion style is abhorrent and which is not.
After taking some time to experience the sights of Camden, There were quite a few pros and cons to the area. I think that it’s best to focus on the pros first. One of the things that I felt was a positive to Camden market was that there was a plethora of self-expression within the area. Everybody really asserts themselves through what they choose to wear and even what group they affiliate their selves with. However what makes the Camden market so unique from most areas of London is that it is widely known for its presence of art in the area. While passing through I saw 3D art sculptures for the exterior of shoe stores and tattoo and piercing parlors. You can also see a painted sign that reads “Camden Lock” which lets you know what exact part of the area you are in.
One of the sights that really caught my attention was when I had saw a homeless man on the sidewalk who looked like he was writing quotes or drawing pictures with sidewalk chalk. This really stood out to me because in a way, it showed that everyone in this location is asserting their artistic talents even if they be in a lower class than others.
People were also very welcoming and willing to help whenever we went into their shops. Based on what we were wearing and the fact we had on backpacks, they could easily make the assumptions that we were tourists or students and it was amazing how many of the shopkeepers would go out of their way to help us if we couldn’t decide on what exactly to buy. It really helped add a warm, welcoming atmosphere to the area.
Perhaps one of the biggest cons for me was that I had sort of felt uncomfortable at some parts in the market. I come from a very suburban hometown and a lot of the clothing styles worn by people in the area were one’s that I really wouldn’t see back at home. I easily felt like a stuck out compared to most people which made me feel a bit introverted while walking through the markets and observing some of the clothing within the area. However, there was really nothing to be worried about since most of the people in the area were friendly despite their appearances and most of them didn’t really approach you while walking around the markets so long as you didn’t cause trouble. So in other words, there was really nothing to be worried about since nobody in the Camden market bites.
I’ve felt the Camden Locks to be a very unique area of London and it is very familiar with people many of the inhabitants of England. It is definitely infamous for its wide-scale sense of art and fashion choices that would seem a bit unusual to most areas of London. One assumption that I had made was that based on the amount of punk rock influences from clothing and art, I had actually questioned if Soho was once like that in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Even if you don’t affiliate yourself with the hipster or punk rock culture, Camden Lock is definitely a must see location if you happen to be spending some time in London and its an opportunity that you should not turn down.
Works cited:
Salazar, Lecture notes 5/24/15, 5/27/15
Wilson, Elizabeth. Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity. Berkeley: U of California, 1987. Print.
Some pictures found on Google Images
No comments:
Post a Comment