1. Lesson 1: Perfection

2. In groups You all have a selection of sentences Arrange these in a list that shows which you think are most important-least important qualities that you look for that make someone attractive to you Can you agree on the order? What do you think is important – be honest, don’t say what you think is the ‘correct’ answer, put them in the order that represents your opinions

3. Watch the video and listen to the lyrics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w

4. Reflecting on the song’s message In what ways does Beyoncé show/ sing about beauty being painful? Why does she use Beauty Contests as the backdrop for the video? How does it support the messages she is delivering? What other situation/location could she have used other than Beauty Contests as a backdrop for the video that would have had a similar effect on helping her message?

5. Is this just a ‘female’ concern? Body building – most commonly associated with men, but not exclusively so - exerts pressures regarding conformity to an image ideal What are the things that a body builder may have to go through to achieve ‘perfection’ in their field?

6. Pretty Hurts ‘Mama said, you’re a pretty girl, what’s in your head, it doesn’t matter’ What’s negative/ positive about this statement? Is ‘Mama’ a bad mother based on what she says to the child/ Beyoncé? Is it wrong to aspire to be ‘beautiful’?

7. Pretty Hurts ‘Perfection is a disease’ – what does she mean by this? ‘It’s the soul that needs surgery’ – what does she mean by this? In what way could we accuse Beyoncé of being hypocritical with the song and video?