The video explores the history of choker necklaces, which have been around since ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Europe. Initially, chokers were worn for protective reasons, believed to ward off harm, evil spirits, and disease. They were also used to signify social status, marital status, and wealth. Throughout history, chokers have been worn by various cultures, including ancient Egyptians, Celts, Native Americans, and European royals. In the 19th century, chokers became a fashion trend among the upper class, and in the 20th century, they were adopted by subcultures such as goths, grunge, and punk. The video also touches on the association of chokers with BDSM and kink, but notes that this connotation is a relatively recent development. The host concludes by mentioning that chokers have made a comeback in recent years, with modern designs and styles inspired by historical and cultural influences.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The word "choker" originated in the 1920s, referring to a type of necklace worn by flappers.
2. Chokers have been worn since the beginning of human civilization, with early examples found in ancient Mesopotamia.
3. The earliest known choker was found in the burial site of Queen Pu-Abi in the ancient Akkadian city of Ur, dated to around 2600 BC.
4. Ancient Egyptians wore jewelry, including chokers, to resemble their gods and earn their favor.
5. In Bronze Age Europe, Celtic noblemen and women wore chokers for protective powers and to resemble their gods.
6. Chokers were also worn by ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.
7. In the Middle Ages, noblewomen wore chokers with Saint Sebastian pendants to ward off the bubonic plague.
8. Native American tribes wore chokers made of bird bones to ward off sicknesses and protect the wearer's throat.
9. In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, chokers were worn as a symbol of wealth and status.
10. The ancient Mughal Empire in India wore chokers as a symbol of wealth and status.
11. In the 19th century, black ribbons worn around the neck became a symbol of prostitution in France.
12. In the 19th century, ballerinas in France wore black ribbon chokers as a symbol of elegance.
13. During the Great Depression in America, wearing a plain black woven choker or ribbon could be a signal of secret lesbianism.
14. The Maasai and Zulu people in Africa wear chokers with different colored beads to convey social status, marital status, and other information.
15. Chokers were used to cover up or disguise neck imperfections, such as goiters or scars.
16. Princess Alexandra of Denmark, wife of Prince Edward of England, popularized the choker trend in the late 1800s.
17. The trend was later adopted by Queen Victoria and other members of the royal family.
18. In the 1920s, flappers popularized the choker trend, which was later adopted by the art deco and art nouveau movements.
19. In the 1960s and 1970s, male rockstars such as Mick Jagger, Jimmy Hendrix, and David Bowie wore chokers as a symbol of gender-bending fashion.
20. In the 1990s, chokers became a staple of the goth and grunge fashion trends.
21. The choker trend resurfaced in the 2010s, with a resurgence of 1990s fashion.