Introduction This English Corner will look at the topic of “Female Beauty” through several aspects: Art Science Culture Technology We will look at such questions as What makes a woman beautiful? Why do Chinese and foreigners have different ideas of female beauty? How is globalization and technology changing our idea of beauty?

This English Corner will look at the topic of “Female Beauty” through several aspects:

Art

Science

Culture

Technology

We will look at such questions as

What makes a woman beautiful?

Why do Chinese and foreigners have different ideas of female beauty?

How is globalization and technology changing our idea of beauty?

Beauty in Art

Women in Representational Art Women have long been a favorite subject for artists to paint, draw, or sculpt Why? Let’s watch a short video on the changing face of women in Western art After we watch the video, let’s discuss How has beauty changed? How is the art different from the way women are shown in Chinese art?

Women have long been a favorite subject for artists to paint, draw, or sculpt

Why?

Let’s watch a short video on the changing face of women in Western art

After we watch the video, let’s discuss

How has beauty changed?

How is the art different from the way women are shown in Chinese art?

Women in Poetry and Prose Women’s beauty is often idealized in poetry through comparisons Examples eyes like stars lips as red as roses eyebrows like willow leaves skin as white as snow hair like black silk Why do you think poets make comparisons like this? Women’s beauty is less often idealized in prose stories Example: Scarlett O’Hara Who’s she? “ Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm …. Her eyes were pale green without a touch of hazel, starred with bristly black lashes and slightly tilted at the ends.”

Women’s beauty is often idealized in poetry through comparisons

Examples

eyes like stars

lips as red as roses

eyebrows like willow leaves

skin as white as snow

hair like black silk

Why do you think poets make comparisons like this?

Women’s beauty is less often idealized in prose stories

Example: Scarlett O’Hara

Who’s she?

“ Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm …. Her eyes were pale green without a touch of hazel, starred with bristly black lashes and slightly tilted at the ends.”

Beauty in Science

Aesthetics Aesthetics is the science of beauty, and the understanding of what makes something beautiful, including People Animals Places Nature We’ll talk about people this time, of course

Aesthetics is the science of beauty, and the understanding of what makes something beautiful, including

People

Animals

Places

Nature

We’ll talk about people this time, of course

Studies of Aesthetics Studies find that there’s a big difference in our idea of beauty but some shared concepts as well Let’s look at a few points we all seem to agree on First: Neoteny This is the tendency of adults to look young Our brains enjoy this, and it’s why we love young-looking people and pandas!

Studies find that there’s a big difference in our idea of beauty but some shared concepts as well

Let’s look at a few points we all seem to agree on

First: Neoteny

This is the tendency of adults to look young

Our brains enjoy this, and it’s why we love young-looking people and pandas!

Studies of Aesthetics Second: Symmetry This means that the left side of the body looks like the right side Our brains enjoy people with more symmetry Sometimes, we like spots on the face that aren’t symmetrical, such as a “beauty mark” (see picture) When we get older, one of the things that often happens is the loss of symmetry

Second: Symmetry

This means that the left side of the body looks like the right side

Our brains enjoy people with more symmetry

Sometimes, we like spots on the face that aren’t symmetrical, such as a “beauty mark” (see picture)

When we get older, one of the things that often happens is the loss of symmetry

Studies of Aesthetics Third: Waist-Hips Ratio Studies across cultures show that men value a “magic” ratio of waist to hips in a woman’s figure That number is 0.7, meaning the width of the waist is .7 times the width of the hips (see picture) We call this an “hourglass figure” Why do you think this ratio matters to men?

Third: Waist-Hips Ratio

Studies across cultures show that men value a “magic” ratio of waist to hips in a woman’s figure

That number is 0.7, meaning the width of the waist is .7 times the width of the hips (see picture)

We call this an “hourglass figure”

Why do you think this ratio matters to men?

Some Questions Why do Westerners find Asian women attractive? Asian women usually have a lower WHR than other women, and this should be less attractive BUT Asians have higher neoteny than other races, so an Asian woman tends to look more “cute beautiful” for a long time

Why do Westerners find Asian women attractive?

Asian women usually have a lower WHR than other women, and this should be less attractive

BUT Asians have higher neoteny than other races, so an Asian woman tends to look more “cute beautiful” for a long time

Another Question But what about fashion models? They’re so skinny, and their faces don’t look young. Fashion models have a different aesthetic standard from ordinary women Remember two things First, they’re skinny so the clothes are all you see Second, many models aren’t chosen to look particularly feminine

But what about fashion models? They’re so skinny, and their faces don’t look young.

Fashion models have a different aesthetic standard from ordinary women

Remember two things

First, they’re skinny so the clothes are all you see

Second, many models aren’t chosen to look particularly feminine

Beauty in Culture

Flashback: Ideals of Beauty

The East-West Beauty Divide? Western Chinese darker skin big eyes full lips high cheekbones high nose hourglass figure mixed race is beautiful lighter skin big eyes “ cherry” mouth “ moon” face high nose slim figure mixed race is beautiful

Western

Chinese

darker skin

big eyes

full lips

high cheekbones

high nose

hourglass figure

mixed race is beautiful

lighter skin

big eyes

“ cherry” mouth

“ moon” face

high nose

slim figure

mixed race is beautiful

Is White Skin Prettier? Today, Westerners believe a tan is sexy, but it wasn’t always this way Until about 100 years ago, the Western ideal was to be really white What changed? The economy changed, and darker skin meant you had MORE money Why? Will China change too?

Today, Westerners believe a tan is sexy, but it wasn’t always this way

Until about 100 years ago, the Western ideal was to be really white

What changed?

The economy changed, and darker skin meant you had MORE money

Why?

Will China change too?

Globalization of Beauty A few years ago, an actress like Shu Qi couldn’t be accepted as “pretty” or even as “sexy” in China Globalization has changed our cultural standards of beauty, and we borrow ideas from other cultures More tellingly, we like mixed-race people and use plastic surgery to share common features

A few years ago, an actress like Shu Qi couldn’t be accepted as “pretty” or even as “sexy” in China

Globalization has changed our cultural standards of beauty, and we borrow ideas from other cultures

More tellingly, we like mixed-race people and use plastic surgery to share common features

Technology and Beauty

Three Uses of Plastic Surgery What is plastic surgery? Use of technology to change your face and body We can say there are three main uses of plastic surgery Cosmetic, to look younger Cosmetic, to look different Therapeutic, to look normal

What is plastic surgery?

Use of technology to change your face and body

We can say there are three main uses of plastic surgery

Cosmetic, to look younger

Cosmetic, to look different

Therapeutic, to look normal

Plastic Surgery in Asia What kinds of things do Asian people change when they get plastic surgery? In general, we can say that Asian people usually get cosmetic surgery to look less Asian In contrast, Western people tend to use cosmetic surgery to enhance Western traits (narrow noses, breasts, etc.)

What kinds of things do Asian people change when they get plastic surgery?

In general, we can say that Asian people usually get cosmetic surgery to look less Asian

In contrast, Western people tend to use cosmetic surgery to enhance Western traits (narrow noses, breasts, etc.)

Social Costs of Plastic Surgery When people overuse plastic surgery they can wind up destroying their face Here’s an example Another cost of plastic surgery is the tendency to look just like everyone else These are two different South Korean singers, not related to each other at all, but …

When people overuse plastic surgery they can wind up destroying their face

Here’s an example

Another cost of plastic surgery is the tendency to look just like everyone else

These are two different South Korean singers, not related to each other at all, but …

Discussion

Pick Any Question Does art influence our idea of beauty? Who’s the prettiest actress in China? Who’s the prettiest actress in the West? Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Does beauty matter for a professional woman? Is cosmetic plastic surgery morally wrong? Who is responsible when plastic surgery goes bad? Will we all look the same in the future? What are some natural ways for women to become beautiful and stay beautiful?

Does art influence our idea of beauty?

Who’s the prettiest actress in China?

Who’s the prettiest actress in the West?

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?

Does beauty matter for a professional woman?

Is cosmetic plastic surgery morally wrong?

Who is responsible when plastic surgery goes bad?

Will we all look the same in the future?

What are some natural ways for women to become beautiful and stay beautiful?