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Pricing Beauty

The Making of a Fashion Model
3.58 goodreads logo

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( 354 ratings, 39 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Pricing Beauty by sociologist Ashley Mears offers an insider's exploration of the fashion modelling world, drawing on the author's own experience as a model in New York and London. Through interviews and observations of models, agents, clients, and industry professionals, Mears reveals the economics, politics, and arbitrariness behind the glamour industry. The book examines how the ideal "look" is created, marketed, and commodified, shedding light on how gender, race, and class influence value in the cultural marketplace.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in sociology, fashion, cultural economics, and gender studies, as well as those fascinated by the inner workings of the modelling industry.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A study of the world of modeling. Exploring an arena of cultural production, it shows how the right 'look' is discovered, developed, and packaged to become a prized commodity. It examines how models sell themselves, how agents promote them, and how clients decide to hire them.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sociologist Ashley Mears takes us behind the brightly lit runways and glossy advertisements of the fashion industry in this insider's study of the world of modelling. Mears, who worked as a model in New York and London, draws on observations as well as extensive interviews with male and female models, agents, clients, photographers, stylists, and others, to explore the economics and politics—and the arbitrariness—behind the business of glamour.

Exploring a largely hidden arena of cultural production, she shows how the right "look" is discovered, developed, and packaged to become a prized commodity. She examines how models sell themselves, how agents promote them, and how clients decide to hire them.

An original contribution to the sociology of work in the new cultural economy, Pricing Beauty offers rich, accessible analysis of the invisible ways in which gender, race, and class shape worth in the marketplace.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Pricing Beauty for giving voice to women who are often seen but unheard in the industry (Slate) and providing a fascinating, nuanced, and complex insight into fashion modelling (Boston Globe, Tottenville Review). It is heralded as an original and accessible sociological study of work in the cultural economy (American Journal of Sociology, Choice), shining light on both the thrills and exploitative aspects of modelling (Stylelist).

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780520270763

Publisher: University of California Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 September 2011

Country: United States

Imprint: University of California Press

Illustration: 13 b-w photographs, 5 line illustrations, 7 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 454g

Pages: 328

About the Author

Ashley Mears is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Boston University

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