So yesterday, I was sitting in my history class looking at a page in my book. There was a picture of Osa Johnson, an anthropologist, and she was researching a culture in Africa. The picture was of Johnson and some of the women of the tribe, and their faces were completely covered save for their eyes. Their arms and shoulders were visible, but nothing else. So this got me thinking; what if every woman wore this? Wore it for all of their lives, and they were only known for their personality; for their kindness, or nastiness, or how they sing or dance, or what their interests are, etc. So when someone takes it off, what makes them ugly? If a wretched, mean person takes it off and they look 'beautiful,' would they still be considered mean? And vice versa; if a beautifully-minded, kind person is unveiled and their face is 'ugly,' would people still like her? Of course, this is dependent on there still being social standards for beauty. So, let's say that there aren't any standards. Wouldn't the face of kindness and joy be more beautiful than that of negativity and cruelty? Personality would be considered more beautiful and important than the face. This is interesting, considering that there's so many things that could have happened after.
Once more, I planted some more sticky notes in the girls bathroom. The few notes I made included the quotes "You are either as beautiful or ugly as you believe you are. You define your beauty." "Makeup is not a tool to make an ugly thing beautiful It is meant only to magnify the beauty that already exists." "The Flower doesn't dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes." and "Nothing can dim the light from within." I really hope I'm motivating my peers to see their own beauty and to brighten their day, hopefully. I have to work on the survey a bit more to make another for the guys, but hopefully I can launch it soon! Think about what you are worth; not to other people, but to you. Are you taking care of yourself? Do you respect yourself? Or do you just pull yourself down, letting others easily do the same? I hope not. I hope you know that you are important, intelligent, and beautiful. FTG!
Good morning! So today I decided to make a survey for the girls of my school. It asks if they think they are beautiful, yes or no, and why. The thing is, it might be easy for people to answer, however it gets them to think about why they chose their answer. I want to know the main reason that people think they are or aren't beautiful, and hopefully I can compile the data into a presentation. It's anonymous, of course, but the results will be alarming, mum, or very reassuring of the self-confidence of the girls in my school. Separately, the survey for the guys that I'm planning on making is going to ask what they think makes a girl beautiful and what makes a girl pretty, and what they think is the difference. Pretty and Beautiful are not the same, however I wonder if other people are different. It's not just a different word, but a different concept encompassed in the word. Beautiful people can be pretty, but there's more to it than that. Barbie is 'pretty' (well, some might say so), but she is not beautiful.
So I just typed in 'beauty define' on Google, and the definition that popped up was "a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight." So, basically, something that pleases you. But it so quickly ruins the idea of Beauty. I think that we enjoy Beauty because we think it's so unique; that is, 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' Some people, for instance, think that Ballet is beautiful. But, on the other hand, some people enjoy watching Irish Dance more so. So, which is more beautiful? Obviously, they would clash over this idea; because they both have a different perception of what is more beautiful. People will do crazy things for beauty. For instance, what is rumored to have begun the Trojan War, which wiped out an entire city, was the running away of Helen with Paris of Troy. This same Helen was known as Helen of Troy, who is considered the most beautiful woman in all of Literature. This is because beauty is very commonly associated with love, and love with an attraction. I think true love stems from beauty, but love does not come from attraction. I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I think if you're looking at beauty in a realist and logical and unattached sort of way, it is something that pleases the senses. However, I know- and I hope you know- that beauty is rooted in something much deeper than that. Beauty in a person is the fulfillment of the combination of talents and abilities that they've been given.
Good morning! My class is beginning our community proposal tomorrow, so I'm a day ahead for this post. I finished my tri-fold poster, and it outlines my project, my mission, and what I plan to do. A picture will be coming soon, as soon as I'm done presenting! I added post-it notes to it also, with facts on beauty standards and such. Most of them came from Dove's website, so I'm not sure how credible they are, but they're shocking just the same. For example, did you know that only 4% of the women around the world consider themselves beautiful? Also, more importantly, 80% of women agree that there is something beautiful about every woman, however they do not see their own beauty. The thing is, I want so badly for these women to know that they are beautiful, that they are loved, but in this they are their own worst enemy. Obviously, outside factors can contribute to their attitude towards themselves, such as broken homes, abuse, or just low self-esteem, but in the end they have to decide that they're beautiful. However, it helps when you know that someone else thinks so. P.S. Here's a video by a music group that I love; they're three sisters who all sing together and they have great things to say about beauty! FTG! Good Morning! Operation Sticky Notes has struck again! But these quotes have been more stirring, hopefully arousing questions in their hearts when people read them; questions that they'll have to answer by themselves. I recently found out that one of my friends doesn't think she is beautiful. This is devastating to me. But the thing is, it's not just facial beauty, bodily beauty she's worried about; it's that, now that she doesn't think her outward appearance is acceptable, she definitely doesn't know how much she is worth, how much dignity as a human being she has, and she doesn't hold very high standards. This is so disturbing to me; granted, I'm not perfect (in fact, sometimes I am so sure of my dignity and worth as a human person that I get too prideful) but it so concerns me that someone doesn't think that they're worth much... especially when she is so dear to me and my friends. So, while on the topic of outside beauty, here's a song by Lana Del Rey that highlights the problem with such ridiculous perceptions; it asks the question "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful" Which again tackles the question 'what is beauty worth?' I'm a whole week ahead of schedule! Today, I explored the interesting characteristics of beauty in the many different cultures throughout the world. It was really interesting; also, I looked up some beauty quotes and found some really interesting ones: The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express: "The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express" (Francis Bacon), “Of life's two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer's hand" (Khalil Gibran) and then this very intriguing one: "Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them" (David Hume). All of these point to a 'beauty' that they have already defined... but beauty is both an adjective and a noun, and it can be applied to people, things, nature, circumstances, happenings, and situations. It's very broad, and then when we say 'that is not beautiful,' what on earth do we mean? Things to ponder.... for the Glory! P.S. Check out this video... it's a music video by Colbie Caillat, and it's about natural beauty and synthetic beauty: I began research on Beauty Standards through History today, and it was really interesting. Did you know that Socrates and Plato, the first great philosophers, actually took on the idea of beauty? Guess what Pluto talked about: Symmetry. Symmetry has long been desired, especially in the face. If your face is very symmetrical, then you are almost instantly beautiful. Ancient Greeks, unlike today, enhanced their natural features instead of trying to cover other features up. If you had long hair, you were a free woman. If you had short, you were a slave. So not only did beauty affect your self-esteem and the opinion of those around you, it affected and reflected your status and importance. Through most of history, tall, pale women were desired. Why? Because if they were pale, it meant that they were RICH enough to not have to work, and to have people fan and shade them when they did go outside. But, today, tan women are more desired, though there are different standards now. But why are tan women more popular? Because they have the MONEY and TIME to go out and tan or lay out in the sun. Your appearance reflects your worth (in money). But what about women's worth as themselves? What about their dignity? Next week, we'll look at beauty standards in different Cultures. FTG!
Woo hoo! Operation Sticky Notes has launched. Blue sticky notes saying everything from ""Smile, happy girls are the prettiest," "Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself... on the inside AND out," to "WARNING: Reflections in this mirror may be distorted by socially constructed ideas of 'Beauty,'." I stuck them all over the High School girl's bathroom... hopefully I'll brighten someone's day! The only thing is that they're all blue... I'll have to go pick some more up at the store! I got a lot of the quotes from Operation Beautiful and some random Google searches... there are some really beautiful quotes and sayings, but I had to save some for the other sticky notes, which will hopefully be in different colors! I'll check up on them every week and then add more as time goes on. Research on Beauty Standards throughout History begins next week, and I'm ahead of schedule! For the Glory!
|
About MeI am Michaela, a High School sophomore with an overactive imagination and a keen interest in the Arts, Philosophy, and Theology. |