The Shaping of Diverse Masculinities by the Westernization of Men's Clothing in Modern China and Japan

Journal: Arts Studies and Criticism DOI: 10.32629/asc.v3i1.712

Zhiwen Tian, Yu Liu

College of Fashion and Art Design, Dong Hua University, Shanghai, China

Abstract

In the process of westernization and reform in East Asian countries, the western style men's clothing was changed due to the western wind, and for East Asian men who originally wore wide laminated traditional men's clothing such as robes, coats and shirts, the prominent expression was the simplification of men's clothing, which resulted in the male body that was hidden under the laminated fabric being gradually enlarged and accentuated. In this regard, East Asian men wore Western-style modified clothing and showed almost uniform masculinity. Chinese and Japanese men had different attitudes towards westernization and the purpose of wearing western men's clothing in the process, which led to the difference in the final image of the costume. It is for this reason that East Asian men took different paths in the portrayal of multiple masculinities. In general, Chinese and Japanese men have been influenced by Western menswear culture to change their concept of fashion. The further development in the social field has realized the dynamic trend of masculinity from flexible subordination to rigid dominance.

Keywords

westernized menswear, male images, masculinities, modern times, modern East Asia

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