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What is beauty for you? Could you tell us? What does this concept represent to you?

The beauty and the Beast:

A definition I like about beauty is the following:
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, place, idea or object; that we as human beings, perceive as an experience of pleasure, satisfaction or meaning.
This widely and controversial term called “Beauty” is studied as part of sociology, aesthetics, social psychology and culture.

Dostoevsky:

What about the phrase: “Beauty will save the world”, by Dostoevsky:

“For a long time now I’ve been tormented by a certain idea, but I’ve been afraid to make a novel out of it, because the thought is too difficult and I’m nor ready for it, though it’s a thoroughly tempting thought and I love it. The idea is to portray a perfectly beautiful man. Nothing, in my opinion, can be more difficult than that, especially in our time”
(Dostoevsky, quoted in the Introduction to The Idiot)

What do you think he means in this quote? Some of the questions I have for you are:
• Does he mean that beauty must be our principle in life?
• Is that beauty he meant not a perception or an influence that we can find outside but rather a principle, which must characterize the way we do everything?
• Can you think in other quotes you like that define the concept of beauty?

Honor, sacrifice, courage, patience, all moral beauty; is that beauty as well?

Beauty of the Fury:

Well, in our society as in others in the world, the concept of beauty is not necessarily the above. Beauty has been commercialized to incredible extents.

Nowadays, in our society, famous persons and celebrities as Paris Hilton, Marilyn Monroe (who is still very famous despite decades of being dead), Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria, are commercialized as extremely, if not the most, beautiful people in the world. Notice: in the world; interesting, isn’t it?
Of course, the above are just a few from a list already established, called “The Most Beautiful People in the World”.

Beauty Tips:

So, what are the beauty stereotypes of our society?
They do not inspired us to practice the beautiful concepts described at the beginning of this entry.
Rather, they impose physical standards of beauty on men and women who are, in their majority, larger and more mature than most of the models out there.

Beauty Magazine:

I read in a study a very simple explanation, it seemed to me clear and real, it says:
• “By presenting an ideal difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits”.
• “It is no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as an essential criterion of beauty.”
• “Age is a disaster that needs to be dealt with”

http://www.bdstudiogames.com/images/arcadeimages/belle-s-beauty-boutique-screen1-pc.jpg
Belle’s Beauty Boutique Game

• Do we have to believe these unrealistic and impossible beauty standards?
• Are we supposed to listen to all this publicity and believe everything that they say?
• Are we able to have our own opinion, even if it is completely opposite to what others say?
• Are we able to free ourselves from harmful self-esteem publicity?
• What shall we do to free ourselves from these stereotypes?

Sleeping Beauty:

We could go on and on with this very controversial topic. But, buy now; we are looking forward to your opinions.
We are sure that they will enrich this entry and will encourage others to discuss this difficult topic for all of us.

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Related Links, Resources and other Points of Interest:

Beauty will Save the World

Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty beliefs

Sex Stereotypes and Beauty

Creative Beauty Concept

The Art of Being Beautiful

Warren Buffet and Humility