The Media Lies To Us About Beauty

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Recommended: What is Beauty

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary- Eleventh Edition, beauty is “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.” (page 108 of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary) But what is beauty really? How does one rationalize its complexity? In today’s culture, depending on the person, beauty can be depicted as a positive influence or as a negative influence. Alyssa Giacobbe outlines beauty in her article, “Youth, Beauty, and An Obsession with Looks.” Giacobbe swings towards a more negative viewpoint. Alyssa Giacobbe, Globe correspondent for The Boston Globe, in her article "Youth, Beauty, and An Obsession With Looks" (2010), analyzes the truth behind perfecting beauty and what it has come to. Giacobbe develops her thesis by using Heidi Montag's frenzy with plastic surgery as an example to why people starve for that "specific" look. The author's purpose is to outline the "enduring hypocrisy surrounding the subject" (paragraph 10 in “Youth, Beauty and An Obsession With Looks”) in order to revelate the growing issue. Giacobbe establishes a strong relationship with most women who think the human body should be something flawless when in fact it is ideal. Montag’s obsession with plastic surgery represents a global ache for perfection. Women and men are influenced to believe one should appear a certain way. In Montag’s eyes, perfection is absolute, tight skin, large breasts, full lips, and the absurd look of discomfort. This type of corrective surgery turns a person into a shiny, plastic Barbie doll. Beauty, in this format, is a negative influence. If society feels the need to pay for overpriced surgery, then not only will people be scraping for money, but clusters of Barbie dolls will soon fill the planet, hypothetically speaking. In an opposite view, Dan Eden, in his article “What Makes Us Attractive,” explains the psychological aspects of beauty. Is it natural? Can it mean popularity? Dan Eden, writer for Viewzone, in his article "What Makes Us Attractive" (2009), argues the personalities, emotions, and lives of "beautiful people" in comparison to "plain, below-average beautiful people." He develops the thesis by describing the atmospheres of work, social outings, and family between the two groups. At the end, he lists a summary of facts regarding what "attractiveness" really is. Eden's purpose is to inform society of true beauty in order to elaborate on the fact that overall, beautiful people are happier. In context, beautiful people are most successful and take more time to present themselves.

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