What We Can Learn from the Zoolander 2 Teaser

 

Making a surprise appearance in a Valentino fashion show earlier this year, actors Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, who showed up in character as Derek Zoolander and Hansel, announced the launch of the Zoolander 2 movie, which will be released in 2016.

The first Zoolander film was released in 2001 and has become an iconic film for fashion enthusiasts and not only, from all around the world. With an incredible wit and a hilarious take on the fashion world, and especially on male models and the men’s fashion world, the film which was also directed by Ben Stiller managed to get people talking about it even many years after its launch.

Lines such as “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. And I plan on finding out what that is” have become true pop culture landmarks since the film. The initial Zoolander movie continues to be referenced very often and things such as “the Magnum look” have now made it in the comedy hall of fame.

 

 

It wasn’t long after the announcing of the movie that the first trailer was released. In fact, it was a very short teaser, but which taught us a very important thing.

You can see the teaser, which is way funnier if you are in a theater and don’t know what it is, below:

 

 

The main thing one can learn from the almost two-minute trailer and from the way in which the film was announced (after a serious fashion show during Paris Fashion Week) is that the fashion world is such a great world, as it has the ability to laugh at itself.

To quote Mark Twain, “humor is mankind’s greatest blessing”. And, if we can add something to that idea, we can say that being able to laugh at oneself is a sign of a true wisdom.

If you think about it, the ability to laugh at yourself is a very evolved and deep thing. Given that self-analysis and seeing yourself from the outside in a distanced manner is a sign of an introspective person, we can conclude that the fashion world is a medium where people who are quite self-aware live. Of course, this is not a new idea – it is known that people who take much interest in fashion are self-conscious (some critics call it self-absorbed or navel-gazing), but the new Zoolander trailer is a palpable proof of that.

Being self-aware and self-conscious are things that usually come after one has made a lot of sense about the world – so it seems that the fashion world is actually more interesting and deeper than people think.

Since clothes in general are an expression of something, meaning that they have no significance in themselves, without a reference system, we can actually agree that fashionistos and fashionistas are, once again, ahead of the curve, but not only sartorially, but culturally and mentally as well. In this context, why is fashion still seen as frivolous? A few hundred years ago, when it was the sole preoccupation of people who had no other preoccupation, it made sense to see fashion as a snob thing. However, now that we know better, maybe it’s time to re-assess fashion’s role in society. Don’t you think?

What do you think? Are the people from the fashion world one step ahead in the world of culture?

 

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading:

A Fashion Editorial: Male Models

10 Male Models You Should Know

P.S. What do you think of the new Zoolander trailer? Do you think the fashion world is deep, as it has the ability to laugh at itself? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!