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Nineteenth-century Britons, especially women, who attended fancy-dress costume events embraced attire inspired by insects more than by other animals. Whether buying pre-made costumes, using patterns, or creating their own designs, they embellished their dress with imitations of wings, antennae, or patterning inspired by butterflies, bees, wasps, hornets, and dragonflies, among others. The appeal of insect costuming coincides with heightened public enthusiasm for entomology. Popular interest in social insects related to reinforcement of class hierarchies and promotion of support for industrial culture. Join Dr. Elizabeth Howie for an engaging lecture fusing science, popular culture, fashion, and leisure.
About the Speaker:
Professor of Art History Elizabeth Howie has taught at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, since 2008. She specializes in modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on the history and theory of photography. She received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007. In addition to articles on photography history, she has co-edited two volumes on disability and art history, and is currently working on an edited volume on sparkle and glitter in art, as well as a 1990s Harley Davidson Owners Group photo archive.