This document summarizes the progress of a student's final thesis project exploring satirical fashion and race issues through an interactive website. The student proposes creating an online fashion line called "Noco" that plays on stereotypes to emphasize the brand. Components will include an interactive game allowing users to assemble stereotypical "negro" figures, and mockups of the website's homepage, collection pages, and other sections. The student spent the summer improving sewing skills for the project and documenting the work. Plans for the fall include refining ideas through mentorship and discussions to strengthen the message.

1. Final Project => Thesis (Update)Ashley Parkin

2. Background InfoMichael Knight: Too “Sean John”

3. Background InfoQuote Diddy:“We've stepped out of that urban, hip-hop box that people tried to put us in, in the beginning," he said. "Our clothing is bought by all colors, all races. We live in a new America where that style of thinking is almost ancient right now — that because the designer is black that his clothes are black. Things have evolved and this is a true testament to that. Christian Louboutin is black, but that doesn't mean his shoes are black. I'm black but my clothes are for everybody.”New York Magazine, 5/5/10

4. Background InfoBlack is Beautiful!French Vogue, October 2009L’OfficielHommes, March-April 2010

5. Background InfoAfrica: “Tribal” and “Ethnic” ChicLouis Vuitton’s Spring 2009 CollectionDior’s Spring 2008 Collection

6. Background info (updated)Essence magazine caused some controversyover the summer by hiring ElliannaPlacas, a white woman, to be their fashion director at themagazine.One of their former editors, Michaela AngelaDavis, made her disappointment over thedecision known through her Facebook andTwitter accounts, and that’s when the race conversation grew over the Internet.

7. Project QuestionsCan the Web be used as a medium in itself for creating fine art with something to ask/say?Why is a group’s culture and aesthetic easier to accept than the people responsible for creating them in the first place?Do they think it’s convenient to put on and take off whenever it suits them?Is a conversation on race and racism still important to conduct?

8. Thesis IdeaCreate a satirical fashion line and present it on the Web with its own site, with some interactive play pieces to emphasize the brand.The name of the fashion line is Noco; it is a play on the derogatory word “coon.” Domain name: thebarracoos.com“Coon” is possibly derived from the Portuguese word “barracoos,” which was the name of a building that used to house slaves ready for sale (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=coon)

9. Final Project: CroquisLookbookAccording to one of the advisors from the Parsons Fashion School, Priscilla Holcomb, a fashion designer creates a croquislookbook as the building block/prototype for his or her collectionIt contains an “inspiration collage” of images that the designer extracts ideas from for the collectionSecond, a “mood board” of fabric swatches and embellishment samples that might or will be used in making itThird, a collection of sketches depicting the collection, called “croquis.”

10. Precedents (updated)Damali Ayo’s Rent-A-Negro.comJonah Peretti’sBlackPeopleLoveUs.comForgetMeNotPanties.comPatrick Kelly, fashion designer (http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/patrick_kelly/)JetBlue Airlines’ “The Flyers Collection” ad campaign Betye Saar’s “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima” (http://www.netropolitan.org/saar/auntjemima.html)

11. Additional Components (Thesis)Interactive Play BlueprintWeb Site Mockups

12. 1. Interactive Play PieceMade with AS3, it will letusers assemble their own “negro” with pre-designedpuzzle pieces containingbasic stereotypes of both black men and women.My ambition is to have users’creations be shared on aspecial Facebook fan page and profile that I will be making for this “company.”

13. 2. Web Site MockUpsHomepage

14. 2. Web Site MockUpsAbout Noco: Our History

15. 2. Web Site MockUpsAbout Noco: Our Videos

16. 2. Web Site MockUpsAbout Noco: Our Videos -> single video

17. 2. Web Site MockUpsThe Collection: homepage

18. 2. Web Site MockUpsThe Collection: section layout

19. 2. Web Site MockUpsContact Info

20. 2. Web Site MockUpsSite Map

21. 2. Web Site MockUpsLegal Notice (explanation of thesis project)

22. 2. Web Site MockUpsCopyright (list of sources used for thesis project)

23. What I Did This SummerEngage in various sewing and crafting projects to improve my sewing skills and gain new fabric decorating techniques Put together some corporate ID for the companyDocumented all of it for the 10 Projects summer assignmentLink to Projects Album:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=487005&id=534535234&l=94e75d0f0d

24. My Agenda for FallRefine and edit my fashion line ideas and web site mock-ups through professor mentorshipKeep learning and improving my craft and web design skillsFine tune my intentions and message within this art piece by discussing the concept with friends and collegues

25. ConclusionThis is the end of the slideshow.Discuss!