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How is the white wedding (think of the dress and so much more) constructed in American Culture? What does it mean- what does this wedding symbolize? How does the construction of the wedding differ for men and women? For same sex couples?
The white wedding, and the significance of an elaborate wedding that symbolizes purity, is a relatively recent cultural development, but one which has spawned an entire industry. Even women who have liberated lives covet the image of innocence, of being a princess for a day, as suggested in the essay “The Trouble with Charlotte.” As many problematic products such as makeup and clothing have coopted the language of choice to be marketed to women who might lead independent career-driven lives, but who still long for the traditional symbolism of dependency. Women are sold a white wedding as a special day for themselves, as if the groom’s worthiness did not matter, and as if women have no right to claim a special day if they are unmarried. Much like motherhood (“Miranda and the Myth of Maternal Instinct”), the desire for the perfect wedding is often portrayed as ingrained within the female consciousness, while males are presented as more resistant.
Of course, one of the benefits of single-sex marriage to society, as well as the personal benefits of two individuals who love one another being able to be joined and enjoy the legal sanction of matrimony, is that the gender dynamics of the institution of the white wedding are being questioned. Rather than the traditional presentation of the reluctant male and the eager bride desiring to tame the man with monogamy, or the emphasis on female purity, same-sex marriage allows for greater personal, creative redefinition of the institution, and also places same-sex love front and center, rather than solely presenting gay people as the friends of straight people, as was typical of sitcoms in the early 90s (“Fabulousness as Fetish: Queer Politics in Sex and the City”). Redefining marriage suggests its potential to affirm happiness for all couples, not simply the woman of a heterosexual union.
One of the most recent trends is these celebrities showcasing their luxurious, and expensive weddings on national T.V. For their adoring fans to admire and be jealous of. According to Ingraham, "using the power celebrities hold as the embodiment of fantasy to authorize particular social behaviors and beliefs, the visual media demonstrate where the margin of acceptability begins and ends" (Ingraham 113). The wedding industry taps into America's fascination
" (Caplan, 1997) the primary item is stated to have been that of flowers and foliage and the color used would be "introduced sparingly through flowers." (Caplan, 1997) Flowers were natural and artificial and "appeared in sugar paste on the sides of the cake, and in a vase on top, often with foliage trailing down around the body of the cake and emphasizing the elevated overall effect." (Caplan, 1997) by
Based on Thumim's work, it is possible to suggest that the reason John Fitzgerald Kennedy won the White House had little to do with his wealth, his brains, the party's backing, his WWII heroism or even his obviously intelligent wife. In view of Thumim's claims, it is possible to conclude that a nation of devalued women -- 'put down' on television sitcoms for more than a decade -- were
Since weddings are meant to bring families together the unity of the community as a whole is catered for and this can be advantageous. This culture will also ensure that the customs and traditions are retained and covered from erosion by other cultures, this is because the arrangements will ensure that only individuals with similar backgrounds are brought together and no new cultures are incorporated. To someone who does
Bollywood Indian culture is clearly demonstrative of a postcolonial culture. The post- colonial nature of the country, as well as its intrinsic diversity drastically effect the expressions of culture and the arts. One foundational example is the movie industry within the country. Nicknamed "Bollywood" by the west it is both an essential part of the new India and a challenge to the traditional and neo-traditional standards of the diverse culture. One
Hip Hop and American Youth Culture Everyone enters a stage of growth when a strong urge to break out of parental dependence, when he recognizes his own person and desires to assert himself. This sense of individuality is an inherent in the American character, especially the youth. Aligned with this restlessness is the restlessness endured for centuries by the Blacks. Their elders may have learned to live with the malignity, although