Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder - Essay Example

? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” may seem to be an old adage, whose meaning is widely known yet often overlooked. Yet if the true essence of this phrase would only be realized, it can actually possess a power to impact the society which has long been blinded by superficial principles that are not based on reality. To behold something means to see it; however, more than just its literal definition, it also entails experiencing something. As such, different individuals may see the same thing – the exact symmetry and the colors reflected by light – yet they create different experiences out of this sight. In a sense, people create their own realities which are objective as far as the self is concerned. Given the argument that there is no single reality, it is then quite unreasonable for the society to adopt a universal principle – as in the case of beauty. Yet no matter what the argument is, the question would always go back to the importance of beauty itself in the society. Perhaps, it is rooted to the fact that it is in man’s instinct to dwell into pleasure – and the concept of beauty itself draws pleasure. But then again, whose pleasure has to be satisfied? Is it the person possessing the attribute or the one perceiving it from the outside? Perhaps, it works both ways such that what actually gives delight to a person possessing the attribute is being recognized by the other as beautiful. The one who is looking finds beauty desirable while the one who possess beauty wants to be desired. This is how the society works. Unfortunately, someone would always follow someone else’s standard – and this standard becomes the society’s reality. Nonetheless, if the society would adopt the belief exemplified by the old adage, given that its meaning has been justified by the idea of varying realities, then people would take delight of their own self rather than of the perceptions of others towards them. If this happens, standards set by the society will be broken as people will be beautiful in their own ways. Having established the essence of the phrase, it is now worthwhile to set the argument on why it should be adopted. First, the concept of beauty – at least, in the modern times – is not necessarily a product of shared cultural beliefs and perceptions but of mass media. In today’s society, the concept of beauty is largely influenced by the mass media which dictate people’s standards that are readily accepted without giving a second thought. The media becomes the standard such that it identifies those who are blessed with beauty and those who are not. It is actually absurd that it tends to contradict even the nature of humans itself. Products that promise flawless skin, for instance, came only after people are born with genetically acquired freckles – something which is not supposed to be a big deal as it is natural. But then again, just because these products emerge in the market, freckled individuals, are now consider not beautiful. Needless to say, while people struggle to meet the so-called requirements of being beautiful, the big industry makes profits. The second argument is that the notion of beauty being portrayed seems to encompass only the physical attributes of a person. As such, beauty has become superficial. To a large extent, it degrades the essence of being human. Physical appearance is something that people are born with; hence, it does not reflect anything about them – it is merely a product of nature. It is the character and the abilities that reflect the kind of person someone is. More than anything, a person who aims to be desirable should prove that he or she is more than just a pretty face. While the society remains to be blinded by superficial standards, the physical appearance does not define a person. In relation to the previous argument, another issue is that the concept of beauty leads to false assumptions. Ideally, someone who possesses beauty is assumed to be good in whatever ways. Yet this issue has been settled that physical appearance is merely a product of nature and it does not determine anything else about the person. However, perhaps, it is the positive reactions being given by the society that make physically beautiful people to develop good character and abilities in the long run – but then again, it is not safe to assume that beauty is tantamount to being good. Lastly, as what has been mentioned, “to behold” also means to experience. This is to say that the idea of beauty is subjective and is based on how the beholder would interpret it. There are other factors that shape the experience of perceiving beauty such as sexual attraction, benefits, friendship, etc. These factors shape the experience of another person who is perceiving beauty. Thus, if an individual aims to satisfy someone else, then the sight of beauty itself is insufficient for others to actually regard it as beautiful. Indeed, beauty is not what you are, it’s what you feel. Now that the arguments have been laid out, it is justifiable for the society to adopt the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of beholder” as part of its own freedom manifesto. This is because, people are judged on the basis of beauty alone, which is quite unfortunate. In terms of employment, opportunities and relationships, those regarded as beautiful often get the advantage – never mind if they cannot fulfill their purpose. This reduces the meaning of the society’s existence to a purposeless and shallow entity. Not only does the society lose its essence, it also fosters inequality among people who are forced into unfair competition to keep up with the existing conditions. Furthermore, regardless of the standards of the society, there is no single beholder who can judge beauty; hence, it is quite a struggle for people to please each and every eye that catches a glimpse. Five Phrases 1. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 2. Beauty is not what you are, it’s what you feel 3. Beauty is seen in the heart not on the face 4. It’s not just about beauty but of brains and attitudes as well 5. You are beautiful no matter what they say Read More