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Chandni Patel
Instructor Newsom
English 1020
12 March 2011
Comprehending the true meaning and nature of beauty is a complicated task due to the
fact that the topic has such broad and indefinite applications. Within today’s society, the media
strictly places emphasis upon the outer appearances of individuals. This emphasis upon outer
images manipulates society into believing beauty is a rigid structure or mold through which all
individuals must accommodate or fit into in order to be considered beautiful. The beauty mold
for men is thought to be men who have muscular, lean, tanned bodies with little or no hair. While
the beauty mold for women is to have size zero bodies, or Barbie doll type bodies. These
particular deranged beauty molds are detrimental to society for the reason that they force both
women and men to judge themselves harshly based upon their outer images which could possibly
lead to depression, eating disorders, or suicide. For that reason it is extremely vital that the
people of society open their minds and eyes to other definitions and forms of beauty. For beauty
is not only found simply within outward appearances, it is also found within the inside. Oxford
English Dictionary characterizes beauty as “That quality or combination of qualities which
affords keen pleasure to other senses (e.g. that of hearing), or which charms the intellectual or
moral faculties, through inherent grace, or fitness to a desired end” (Beauty defn 2). This
particular definition addresses both inner and outer beauty by stating beauty is whatever results
in pleasure to any of the senses, such as hearing. Beauty can better be defined by first
understanding that there are two categories to it, one which is based upon appearance (outer
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beauty), while the other is focused upon more abstract ideas and feelings (inner beauty). Inner
beauty is better defined as being the constructs of the mind, such as music or poetry or artwork,
emotions, and personality.
Music, poetry, and artwork fall under the subcategory poetic beauty. All three forms of
this beauty have physical attributes; however, their origins dwell within the mind. An
individual’s mind forms music, poetry and artwork through that individual’s mental capacity for
creativity and originality. Through these mental processes an individual is able to express their
thoughts and emotions, which is also another form of beauty. Through these forms of expression
artists experience a form of way to release their emotions through intellectual means. Types of
music and art vary from artist to artist, and the people who follow these artists, when looking
upon their works of art experience a thought process similar to the mental processes experienced
by the artist, thus producing more creativity and pleasure. The beauty within these many thought
processes lie with how each individual perceives the art they view or make, even if the work of
art is perceived as sad or melancholy it can be source of release for the artist and viewer which
induces a sense of pleasure within the brain. Rather than judging one based upon their physical
attributes, poetic beauty provides insight into one’s mind and allows an outsider to view this
person for how they think.
Emotions are the states of conscious mind in which experiences of joy, sorrow, anger, or
fear are distinguished from normal states of conscious. These states of conscious are the driving
forces behind which actions are made by an individual.
Personality—reference “beauty and the beast”
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In order for the beauty to be understood in its entirety it is necessary for one to take into
account there are two types of beauty, one which is physical and one which is more abstract and
dwells within the minds of man. Currently emphasis on the importance of inner beauty is a rare
commodity. We as a people are repeatedly bombarded by images of “perfection” by the media
and how physical attractiveness is something which is a solid structure and cannot be changed.
Inner beauty places emphasis on things which are not material or superficial, it places emphasis
upon ideas and emotions and personality. Although both types of beauty are different, they also
contain their similarities, one of which includes bringing pleasure and happiness to individuals.
Society must take into account both forms of beauty or risk the destruction and unhappiness of
its people. Physical beauty is in its own sense important, however physical beauty would less
powerful without inner beauty. However inner beauty is more independent compared to physical
beauty because inner beauty is appeals to thoughts and emotions, while physical beauty is
temporarily appealing to the senses. Constructs of the mind such as music, art, and poetry,
emotions, and personality emulate inner beauty because they all originate from within the mind,
they all in a sense bring pleasure, satisfaction, and meaning whether it be to the self or another
individual.
--Sorry this was the most I could manage given my busy and tight schedule.