dOES tHe FashIoN IndUStRy StiLL PRoMoTe SmOKIng? Seminar 2

For seminar 2 the aim of the game was to look into our chosen chapters of 'The Tipping Point', in more detail. In groups we brain stormed and discussed the deeper issues and our thoughts and opinions on the subject. Our group decided to focus on the chapter, 'Suicides, smoking and the unsticky cigarette' and found ourselves concentrating on the issue of smoking. During our discussion some interesting points and questions were raised such as; is smoking really an issue? (In reference to the 'Nanny state') Why can't we pin point what exactly it is that makes people think its cool? Could we change the appearance of a cigarette to make it less appealing? Why is smoking still seen as a fashion accessory?  This last point made me think and i decided to do some more research into whether the fashion and fags still went hand in hand, and to my surprise many people still believe that they do. I read some interesting articles from both online newspapers and personal blogs. It is interesting to read that many fashion designers are more than happy to use cigarettes in their advertising and generally associate their product with smoking. For example Gucci's handbags been photographed covered in ash and leading high street chain Jack Wills using cigarettes in their window displays. Also Vogue which has been described as 'the worlds most influential fashion magazine', continues to feature models smoking on its pages. They say that the cigarette is the perfect prop or accessory and has been described as 'a high heel for the arm'. As Jess Carter-Morley from the Guardian comments, 'Fashion models, like teenagers, smoke for effect...The point is how the cigarette makes you look'. I'm not sure if just because a beautiful model is smoking in Vogue that it would make me want to smoke, but its this subliminal messaging that if you smoke you'll be as cool, dangerous and striking that is encouraging people to take up the habit.

Here is my finished poster.