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Pricing Beauty

The Making of a Fashion Model

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Pricing Beauty

Written by: Ashley Mears
Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
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About this listen

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 modeling. 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.

©2011 Ashley Mears (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Gender Studies Popular Culture Social Sciences Sociology Discrimination Capitalism Socialism Social justice

What the critics say

"Mears gives voice to a group of women who are paid to be seen and not heard." (Slate)
"Mears has produced a fascinating study." (Boston Globe)
"Mears acknowledges that walking the runway can be a thrill unlike any other [but also] notes some of the industry's exploitative aspects." (Stylelist)
All stars
Most relevant
Had to skip a whole chapter because it was too heavy on the feminist point of view which had been previously touched upon in previous chapters but I still give it 5 stars and would recommend it

Quite good overall

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