As a former student of International relations (for those not in the know this is the polygamous lady of the academia who marries Political science with philosophy, Economics, History and God know what else ) I HATE hearing people saying 'Its all about Blood and Oil'.
I'm reminded of this only because its the title of the latest issue of the Economist and I still haven't got my free edition that the freebie sample website promised me. As someone who has pawed through political journals denser than dark matter in their literary style I hate it when anarchist hippy types say this as if they've just reeled it off a Che Guevara T'Shirt. Structural Political theories tell us its all about the 'over arching structures of governance' economics, governmental style, Post-colonial history if applicable...
But In the context of current affairs I would like to add fashion and chose this as a topic of exploration rather than Blood or Oil. With Gaddaffi being ousted out of Tripoli its a bright time for Libya and a dark one for fashion. Obviously this is all enormously serious as the monster, who is 'certainly not in Venezuela' is responsible for Genocide and openly colluded with fellow tyrants such as Idi Amin. However, he's iconic oddness is subject of Asian Dub foundation's electro Opera 'Gadaffi a Living Myth' (see link) and his Nazi/ Beduin chic was subject an article in Vanity Fair, August 2009 .
Certain tedious theorists write of political thought as an extension of the human condition, similarly Wilde (a pioneer of women's dress reform) apparently described fashion as wearing your thoughts. Lasts years AfriPOP range didn't make it beyond NY Fashion week 10 catwalks, but Gaddaffi as a supporter of Pan- Africanism, seems to have created something new and sustainalble that creates a sense of identity whilst supporting local industries. A shame the same can't be said of western suites... Gandhi with his homespun might agree. Kimono's, Sari's and Kebaya's are considered respectable formal wear for ladies, which maybe hints at gender specific bias towards westernisation, which Gaddaffi seems to break. Author Rob Trubshaw links this to the notion of folklore (and therefore folk custumes) not applying to Western Europeans as folklore studies were mainly written in the colonial era in the context of quaint natives who were colonised 'others'. In the context of the contracted 'Orient' Edward Said might go further and describe this as feminising.I think its an awefull shame that most of us don't wear folk costume. Oh well, at least the Middle East will soon be rid of one more monster.
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