Beauty & Culture
Culture What is culture? Symbolic construction Articulate information Means of self-expression Establishes norms, defines roles ¤
Idea/l of Beauty Influences that set norms? Genetics Socialization Family, peers, role models, community Popular culture Celebrities Advertising/media Commercial Media message Buying decisions Culturally relative norm ¤
Cultural Issues Problems regarding culture Reason, excuse, justification Cultural relativism Reconciling differences across cultures How to int’l standards? Domination ¤
Beauty Norms Africa, Brazil, and India Culturally-bound, relative idea Burkina Faso v. Nigeria Western values dominate Women objectified Men also held to norms ¤
Industry & Beauty Media, entertainment, business, and fashion industries In GS-imported notion of beauty Brazil and Gisele Actresses, models, celebrities Promote what sells, appeals Issues of genetics, environment Unhealthy eating habits, established patterns Gov’t intervention Enacted laws Men rarely mentioned ¤
Food & Beauty Disorders mostly GN phenomenon Also trending worldwide Have enough food Reaction to beauty pressures Also trending worldwide Poverty, yet thin is in Eating well = wealth Global influence of beauty ideal But world obesity rates increasing? ¤
Pursuing Beauty Eye of beholder or eye of the masses? Political & economic concept? Media, advertisers’ roles Conform to the norm Looking v. feeling healthy ¤ http://www.mynewsdesk.com/dk/l-oreal-danmark/pressreleases/40-years-of-because-i-m-worth-it-705468