American Woman revealed in NY

The Metropolitan Museum in New York is celebrating American femininity with a new exhibition. Entitled 'The American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity', the exhibit helps interpret what American women have been saying about themselves, without saying a word. The exhibition explores developing perceptions of the modern American woman from the 1890s to the 1940s, and how those perceptions affect the way American women are seen today. Women's fashion is divided into six archetypes, with each in its own gallery. They represent the Heiress, the Gibson Girl, the Bohemian, the Suffragette/Patriot, the Flapper, and the Screen Siren. Ahead of the opening, Andrew Bolton, Curator of The Costume Institute explained the importance of each gallery. Andrew Bolton, curator of The Costume Institute, said, "The last gallery, in a way, takes out these ideas or characteristics embodied by these archetypes, and locates them in specific American women." Focusing on archetypes of American femininity through fashion, the exhibition will reveal how American women initiated style revolutions that mirrored their social, political, and sexual emancipation. Early mass-media representations of American women established the fundamental characteristics of American style, a theme that will be explored via a multimedia installation in the final gallery.

• 2010-05-05T07:05:25+00:00
• Duration: 01:19

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Metropolitan Museum in New York is celebrating American femininity with new exhibition Entitled American Woman Fashioning National Identity' exhibit helps interpret what American women have been saying about themselves without saying word exhibition explores developing perceptions modern American woman from 1890s 1940s those perceptions affect way American women are seen today Women's fashion is divided into six archetypes with each in its own gallery They represent Heiress Gibson Girl Bohemian Suffragette/Patriot Flapper Screen Siren Ahead opening Andrew Bolton Curator Costume Institute explained importance each gallery Andrew Bolton curator Costume Institute said last gallery in way takes out these ideas characteristics embodied by these archetypes locates them in specific American women Focusing on archetypes American femininity through fashion exhibition will reveal American women initiated style revolutions that mirrored their social political sexual emancipation Early mass-media representations American women established fundamental characteristics American style theme that will be explored via multimedia installation in final gallery