Outline Introduction – Why Mobilize Popular Opinion for war? Different modes of attaining support Patriotism – American Sniper – Hollywood films - Westwall’s Cultural Imagination – Masculinity/muscularity – image of soldiers (male strength), Uniform as significantly militaristic (Cultural politics of uniform) – DPM and camouflage (MTP) as visual identity – reassure public of uniform protection Uniforms in education, Japanese Case (signs of orderly conduct) leading to youth Youth Culture – Toy Soldiers (playing at soldiers), Videogames, Recruitment process - normalize war – legitimize use of force – pleasure culture of war Military Fashion (Military Chic) – increase army influence on society – transform civilians into soldiers – fashion breaks rules of uniform - photo shoot pictures – ‘patriotic’ – pervasive appeal in popular culture Sexual Connotation - sexual violence/social/sexual power – fantasy of power (erotically charged with violence) –SS uniform as sexual fantasy – emergence of SM – military in pornography (subliminal advertising) for sex or military? Loss/degrading military significance as rules of uniform broken? – Playboy example Popular Culture – Comedy& satire (Ali G) – highlights meaning of traditional perspectives of militaristic fashion - Susan Sontag’s hard truth (elite culture vs mass culture) - Military imagination VS Realities of war (Abu Gharib case - not mobilized/but discouraged) – visual subject in search of truth (most convincing and powerful form) – visibility of war undemocratic – invisible visibility of police culture Issue of war transparency –idea of opening up political practice unlikely due to confidential exterior motives in world systems – thus not feasible due to government/national interests? Discourages patriotism. Importance of being critical and recognize elitist culture as one side of the story. Conclusion – significance of images – military influence for patriotism and youth culture – fashion breaking the rules, popular culture adaptation, sexualize the uniform in pornography – loss of meaning as elitism is opposed by mass culture - visual images of abu gharib/comical satire of the uniform. Ultimately depends on the scope of media outlet for elitist culture to mobilize support for war, but other less apparent media representations, counters the dominant notion in support of war, thus in a sense de-mobilizing support. Bibliography Blechman, H. (2004) DPM Disruptive Pattern Material: An Encyclopaedia of Camouflage: Nature, Military and Culture. London: DPM Ltd. Craik, J. (2003) ‘The Cultural Politics of Uniform’. Fashion Theory, vol. 7, no. 2, 127-147. Dawson, G. (1994) ‘Playing at Soldiers: Boyhood Phantasies and the Pleasure Culture of War’ in Soldier Heroes: British Adventure, Empire and the Imagining of Masculinity. London: Routledge, 233-258. McVeigh, B. (1997) ‘Wearing Ideology: How Uniforms Discipline Minds and Bodies in Japan.’ Fashion Theory, vol. 1, no. 2, 189-214. Mirzoeff, N. (2006) ‘Invisible Empire: Visual Culture, Embodied Spectacle and Abu Ghraib’. Radical History Review, no. 95, 21-44. Sontag, S. (1996) ‘Fascinating Fascism’ in Under the Sign of Saturn. London: Vintage, 318-325. Tynan, J. (2013) ‘Military Chic: fashioning civilian bodies for war’ in War and the Body. London: Routledge, 78-90. Vries, L. (2007). Playboy-Posing Sergeant Relieved Of Duty. CBS News, Online Article. Westwell, G. (2006) War Cinema: Hollywood on the Front Line (Short Cuts). Edition. Wallflower Press. Primary Source (Images) Dailymail, (2012). 'Support Our Troops' Fashion Shoot - Courtney Stodden. [image] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2168941/Courtney- Stodden-poses-racy-Independence-Day-photoshoot.html [Accessed 8 Feb. 2015]. Digital Playground, (2013). Military in Pornography - Code of Honor (Jesse Jane, Kayden Kross, Riley Steele, Stoya). [image] Available at: http://www.avn.com/galleries/Code-of-Honor-500463/500473/ [Accessed 7 Feb. 2015]. Michael & Melia, (2014). Military Fashion Shoot - Taylor McLendon, Ashley Blanks, & McKinley Shunn. [image] Available at: http://www.seniorsignite.com/trenches- military-fashion-shoot/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2015]. Universal Pictures., (2002). Camouflage - Ali G Indahouse. [image] Available at: http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25914&start=30 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2015]. Warner Bros. Pictures, (2014). Film Poster - Bradley Cooper in 'American Sniper'. [image] Available at: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/second-poster-clint-eastwoods- american-sniper/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2015]. World of Tanks Forum, (2014). Evolution of U.S Military Uniforms. [image] Available at: http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/371819-evolution- of-american-military-uniforms/ [Accessed 7 Feb. 2015]..