Dissertation What is Beauty - The great beauty debate
This year for my BA Hons I will be writing a dissertation of around 8000 words. Having to write this many, I knew I needed a subject that was meaty and one that I would enjoy research and learning about.
In my first year, I looked to models such as Kate Moss & Naomi Campbell and their roles as models, or the ‘beautiful people who’s ‘perfect figures ‘ sell clothes by the millions’ and how this effects people with body insecurities, especially in todays plastic surgery fuelled existence. I also looked throughout the ages to discover what was endured to make a figure more desirable, whether it was nose jobs being performed in the 1500’s when the noses crumbled due to syphilis, the wearing of a corset in the 19th Century to gain the most desirable waist line or foot binding in China to have the “Golden Lotus’ status which meant the ideal foot would be 3” long and the cleft of the foot could be used for male masturbation.
The 2nd year, my essay looked to the golden age of couture and cinema, where Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn not only sparked icon beauty status, but also sold a life style that was so desirable to many women.
For 3rd year, I aim to combine these and look to what is beauty? Our catwalks are full of androgynous looking models and the likes of Christina Hendricks wont be dressed for Oscars because heaven forbid she has a kick ass curvatious body that puts Marylyn to shame. We are in a time where Americas top model has had a transgender model compete, before surgery. All these things effect the way women perceive themselves, for my essay I aim to dispel the fact that this is what is desirable, I will look to the past, to great beauties and see whether this is not only a new phenomenon
Christina Hendricks
Isis - Transgender model
Rubens, where artists use their muse as a model for their work
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