The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style
Inspired by Terry Newman’s literary and sartorial analysis of writers in her book <i>Legendary Authors and the Clothes They Wore</i>, I analyze James Baldwin’s literary and sartorial style using excerpts from his works and archival photography. I also add a signifier/signified analysis u...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Literature |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-9789/2/4/17 |
| _version_ | 1797624006300401664 |
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| author | Sha’Mira Covington |
| author_facet | Sha’Mira Covington |
| author_sort | Sha’Mira Covington |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inspired by Terry Newman’s literary and sartorial analysis of writers in her book <i>Legendary Authors and the Clothes They Wore</i>, I analyze James Baldwin’s literary and sartorial style using excerpts from his works and archival photography. I also add a signifier/signified analysis using social semiotic theory. According to De Saussure, there are two main parts to any sign, the signifier, which connotes any material <i>thing</i>, and the signified, which is the meaning that is made of that <i>thing</i> by the receiver. Social semiotics changes the focus from the sign to the way people use semiotic resources to produce communicative artifacts, collectively. In the semiotic tradition, I extend the literary text (<i>Go Tell it on the Mountain</i>, <i>Another Country</i>, and <i>Just Above My Head</i>) to a larger reading of the culture in which it was created and to the more universal structures that are inherent within it. Clothing is also considered a critical semiotic resource because it is viewed as a sign that signifies a particular meaning. In my analysis, I illuminate how Baldwin’s sartorial style is a mirror (signifier) to reflect his literary style and reflects the creative and spiritual (signified) essence of his work, connected to and with collective Black narratives of style. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:36:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aaaf7def13a14c7aa3d27458700474fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-9789 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:36:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Literature |
| spelling | doaj.art-aaaf7def13a14c7aa3d27458700474fa2023-11-16T17:13:51ZengMDPI AGLiterature2410-97892022-09-012420021210.3390/literature2040017The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial StyleSha’Mira Covington0Institute for African American Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30609, USAInspired by Terry Newman’s literary and sartorial analysis of writers in her book <i>Legendary Authors and the Clothes They Wore</i>, I analyze James Baldwin’s literary and sartorial style using excerpts from his works and archival photography. I also add a signifier/signified analysis using social semiotic theory. According to De Saussure, there are two main parts to any sign, the signifier, which connotes any material <i>thing</i>, and the signified, which is the meaning that is made of that <i>thing</i> by the receiver. Social semiotics changes the focus from the sign to the way people use semiotic resources to produce communicative artifacts, collectively. In the semiotic tradition, I extend the literary text (<i>Go Tell it on the Mountain</i>, <i>Another Country</i>, and <i>Just Above My Head</i>) to a larger reading of the culture in which it was created and to the more universal structures that are inherent within it. Clothing is also considered a critical semiotic resource because it is viewed as a sign that signifies a particular meaning. In my analysis, I illuminate how Baldwin’s sartorial style is a mirror (signifier) to reflect his literary style and reflects the creative and spiritual (signified) essence of his work, connected to and with collective Black narratives of style.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-9789/2/4/17James Baldwinliterary stylesartorial stylefashionsemiotics |
| spellingShingle | Sha’Mira Covington The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style Literature James Baldwin literary style sartorial style fashion semiotics |
| title | The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style |
| title_full | The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style |
| title_fullStr | The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style |
| title_short | The Narrative Bodies of James Baldwin: A Discussion of Literary and Sartorial Style |
| title_sort | narrative bodies of james baldwin a discussion of literary and sartorial style |
| topic | James Baldwin literary style sartorial style fashion semiotics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-9789/2/4/17 |
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