Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 10, 2009). Advisor: Noel Reifel. Includes bibliographical references (p. 6).

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 27).

Throughout the years, portraiture has acted as a reflection of the changing aesthetics of both society and art. As traditions progressed from one way of thinking to new ideas, art and particularly portraiture has acted as a visual record of these changes. From the elaborate portrayals of the aristocrats and their lush surroundings, displaying their wealth and prestige to the expressionist paintings of the 20th century, which were more concerned with portraying the intensity of the paint and the emotional state of the sitter than an accurate physical account, the apparel and accoutrements of the sitter have remained as an important factor in determining a person's identity. The following images are a reflection of the emphasis that our youth and consumer driven society has put on the outward appearance of an individual. The constant barrage of advertising has forced us to either accept or reject the mainstream ideals of beauty and fashion. As a result, despite our best efforts to separate ourselves as unique individuals through apparel, often times the choices that we make are compelled by acceptance of a larger social group.

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