Social Organization
Contributor: Casey Park
Country: China
City: Beijing
This picture was taken at the Forbidden City. These were the uniforms worn be city members during the early dynasty. The lasting effects of this social order from centuries ago is still visible in China today
I thought that the difference in dress between the older folks and the younger generation was really fascinating. I often saw people over the age of 60 or so who wearing clothes that were representative of the Mao era. Drab blue pants and overcoats with the flat top hat. What a departure that must have been from the ornate dress shown here.
The visual distinctions to mark social order were clearly structured in earlier Chinese history, an intriguing concept that clothes define someone's social status. Interestingly, while the formal divisions no longer exist, we found that the way people dress still helps visualize their higher social class. The importance of brands, particularly in places where fake products are readily available, illustrates this desire to show off someone's wealth, showing that these manifestations of social order still exist today.
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Social Organization