Question

Essay on values towards self and society

Answer 1

The issue regarding the role of appearance and beauty in contemporary society has been widely discussed in academic literature and the mass media sources. Beauty is not only biologically programmed to function in human representation, but also it is culturally constructed to address the culture of human societies (DeMello, 2007). It has been found that human character can be better understood if there is a reflection of one’s sense of identity that can be found in the way an individual is dressed or how he/she behaves (Finkelstein, 2013). Psychologists state that there are many significant physical features that “both men and women are programmed to find beautiful, including smooth skin, thick shiny hair, and symmetrical faces and bodies” (DeMello, 2007, p. 28). Most people would agree with the fact that appearances could be created to impress others. For example, “dressing after a particular fashion is done in order to convey a certain impression”( Finkelstein, 2013, p. 1). Beauty is not an isolated quality, according to Plato, as beauty and appearance are associated with goodness. However, in some cases, the increased attention to beauty and appearance leads to the violation of effective functioning of the value system. Thesis statement: The emphasis on appearance and beauty in contemporary societies reflects and promotes a distorted system of value because inner beauty is often ignored by the individuals, who highlight the role of appearance in social interactions.

The major goal of this paper is to discuss whether the emphasis on appearance and beauty in contemporary societies reflects and promotes a distorted system of value. In order to achieve the established goal it is necessary to discuss the role of appearance and beauty in contemporary society, the nature of the distorted system of value and the relationship between appearance and beauty and the accepted system of values.

The role of appearance and beauty in contemporary society