So they say beauty lies within the eye of the beholder right…? Which suggests that everything and everyone is beautiful to something or someone. The perception of our own beauty is a different beast altogether, it is marred and contaminated by ideologies. Can you truly look at yourself through your own eyes and ACTUALLY see the extent of your own beauty and self worth? This is almost impossible in most cases as things like insecurities come into play and warp your overall perception. However the true beauty that resides within is reflected on the outside. For example a physically beautiful person is capable of turning monsterish when his/her inner ugliness starts to taint his/her perceived physical beauty, like a poorly authored book camouflaged by a beautiful cover. These are equivocations that have been concocted to lure you in like a spider’s web.
Having said that, physical beauty remains a vital issue within the rules of attraction, since every person has an initial idea of what they are attracted to. Nonetheless this physical pre-perception of beauty may later transform when personality is introduced and the extent of inner beauty starts to unravel. This either diminishes pre-established flaws, making them appear insignificant or vice versa, make them more prominent and unbearable enough to abandon this exchange altogether. So the initial focus on physical beauty should not necessarily be viewed as a negative or shallow concept, as without it the inner beauty that lies within may never be discovered.
The ideals regarding beauty are largely influenced by culture so they tend to differ from country to country, for example London’s idea of beauty significantly differs from that of New York City’s. Having experienced both cities up close and personal, I deduce that London’s general perception of beauty is less narrow than New York City. Many factors such as racial tolerance and acceptance play a role in this. For example New York City’s idea of female beauty seems to favour foreigners or Caucasians. The party scene in Manhattan particularly thrives on “foreign exotic flowers” namely European women. Whilst some parts of London can be likened to this view, Londoners are generally more open minded and accepting in their ideals of beauty.
The beauty in question is not limited to people, rather it applies to all things where the same theory can be carried through. For example, attraction and beauty are two key fundamentals within various areas of the fashion industry and the overall creative environment. In art and design, beauty truly lies within the beholder’s eye as one may find a particular display pleasing to the eye, while another finds it quite the opposite. Most people remain true to their inner eye, while others attempt to abandon theirs and adopt society’s general idea of beauty, due to numerous potential reasons such as status, self-loathing and depleted self-confidence. Although at times it may seem convenient for society to adapt to the ever shifting ideals of beauty, focusing on our inner eyes and individual tastes is far more satisfying and liberating.
Moon Coated 