Chicago Humanities Festival

Style Matters. From Air Jordans to the power suit to androgyny, what we wear speaks volumes about who we are as individuals and what we value across cultures. In our new annual spring festival, we will explore the historical, political, and economic complexity of style, from yesteryear to tomorrow; the runway to the street corner; the hoodie to the hijab.  And we will venture beyond clothes into politics, music, literature, and more, to look at style as a force that can actually change the world, from James Brown’s dance moves to the lowly but adorable emoji. This spring, throw off your cares and come strike a pose at the Chicago Humanities Festival of Style!

Follow Along @ #CHFSTYLE

Madison Ballroom, Saturday April 30

Kalup Linzy: A Star Is Born

(pictured; photo by Daniel Trese) 1 – 2 PM

Multidisciplinary artist Kalup Linzy defies categorization. Challenging our notions of gender, role, race, and sexuality through film and installation, Linzy’s satirical narratives play with the style of soap operas, telenovelas, and Hollywood reality melodrama, pushing boundaries of dress, culture, and art. Linzy brings his trailblazing work to us for exhibition and discussion.

Link

Fast Fashion

4-5 PM

“Overdressed does for T-shirts and leggings what Fast Food Nation did for burgers and fries.” – The Nation

The global fashion discount industry has made high-priced chic available on the cheap. But some argue that we’re paying in other ways for all those $15 shoes and $5 T-shirts. After surveying her own wardrobe, journalist Elizabeth L. Cline set out to uncover the true cost of discount retail and found horrific labor conditions, environmental devastation, and the demise of local fashion economies. Now she’s shooting a documentary exploring the same themes as her book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. Join Cline for a frank talk about fast fashion while exploring ways to shop ethically and sustainably.

Link

April 30, 2016 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Madison Ballroom