Regardless of how beauty is defined (this question will be revisited), several cultures tend to subconsciously and consciously perceive a person’s physical appearance as a reflection of his or her character—it is assumed that those who are lovely must take care of themselves and therefore are somehow “better” than those who are ugly and perhaps care very little about how he or … [Read more...]
Universal Standard of Beauty?
We are bombarded with an array of advertisements on a daily basis. From television, to billboards to radio, to the internet, we are unable to escape these advertisements. Most often, these advertisements focus on beauty in one form or another. More specifically, we are confronted with images of very thin and fair women. Such images have become the global standard of beauty. … [Read more...]
Beauty Gangam Style
The United States is the country with the most cosmetic surgery, but Korea has the most people per capita who have undergone a cosmetic procedure. In South Korea, many people are electing for surgery to achieve a more beautiful appearance. In Seoul’s Gangam district, there is an area known as the beauty belt. The beauty belt is the location of hundreds of plastic surgery … [Read more...]
Lighten Up?: Skin-lightening as Cultural Imperialism and Homogenization
In “Cultural Imperialism," Tomlinson remarks that while multinational corporations may see globalization as the opportunity to capitalize and market their products worldwide, the subsequent cultural homogenization is worth noting. In favor of capitalism, Tomlinson argues that the spread of homogenization is merely an adaptation to the social environment of capitalism and is … [Read more...]
The Role of Beauty in the Work Place
With the pervasiveness of media in our daily lives, it seems nearly impossible to avoid being brainwashed by society's carefully contrived standards of beauty. Notions of what is beautiful infiltrate every aspect of our lives, including the one place where brain power is supposed to trump all—the workplace. Many studies have shown that attractiveness is a key to success after … [Read more...]
