The belief that Vestis virum facit—or ‘clothes makes the man’—is a sentiment that has endured in western civilization for more than two thousand years, and this is for good reason. Regardless of culture or historical epoch, material adornments such as robes, dresses, coats, hats, necklaces, medals, and crowns have been used to signify social status, occupation, and individual identity. This is especially true when it comes to moments of warfare and armed conflict. The plate armor of the medieval knight, the white dress of the Red Cross nurse, and olive-green tactical pants of President Zelensky are all iconic examples of this principle in action. So much so, that one could assert a new maxim, namely vestis proeliatorem facit, or ‘clothes makes the combatant.” Operating under this premise, one will find that the traditional boundaries that serve as the demarcation between militant utility and popular fashion are quite porous, and that apparel of all kinds can serve as a means of signifying resistance, solidarity, agency, sovereignty, and national identity.
The GSA’s War and Violence Network is seeking submissions for 20–25-minute conference papers that explore the intersection between material culture and armed conflict within a German speaking context. Topics can include but are not limited to military costumes as an expression of social camouflage or uniformity, apparel as a form of solidarity or social propaganda, and clothing as a means of gender performativity. The inspiration for this discussion comes from the material history of central European conflict during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but submissions that expand beyond this timeframe or examine this question through critical lenses such as gender studies, race studies, and colonialism are welcome.
If you wish to participate, please send a 500-word abstract with a 200-word biography to Seth Thomas (sht47@cornell.edu) before Feb. 28th.