5. Fashioning the Other: Fashion as an Epistemology of Translation

The chapter 'Fashioning the Other: Fashion as an Epistemology of Translation' delves into the complexities of inter-cultural communication and translation in the context of international relations. It critiques modern IR theories for their failure to address the problem of translation and argues for a postmodern approach that acknowledges the political and ethical dimensions of translation. The chapter introduces the concept of 'fashion' as a paradigm for understanding inter-cultural translation, highlighting the creative and transformative potential of cultural exchange. It draws on the work of philosophers such as Martin Heidegger and Jacques Derrida to critique the modern epistemology of translation and proposes a more nuanced understanding of cultural identity and difference. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the mutual constitution of self and other in inter-cultural relations and the need for a more sophisticated understanding of the traces of identity in cultural productions.