The Mechanism of Beauty
As we have reached an empirical moment in history, where one can viscerally ascertain the standards of beauty not only by being able to browse and access a plethora of videos that highlight what is “beautiful”, but as well as hacks to be able to afford results that are not only similar, but shockingly accurate to surgical procedures.
Fair warning, I will be continuously placing the words “beauty”, “beautiful” in quotes, as I find both terms to be lacking any meaning that can be defined holistically.
It’s been a long time coming, but the shame that was levied on male identifying humans to be bullied or mocked for engaging in beautification has been eviscerated in the youth of 2024.
In a shocking twist of Lacanian irony, we are faced with the truthfulness of what has been prophesied for many ages: the Oedipal complex is truly a machine that produces results.
Lacan (drawing inspiration from Wittgenstein) has written about the concept that any form of language creates an implication of rules and cultural practices within the verbiage, to the dialect itself.
For example, in certain cultures, the idea of beauty is not based on the connection of a certain type of body, or physical attributes but much rather the feelings or aura that person evokes in another.
If a language can aptly have the word “fat” (as English often lends itself to do) be viewed in the public scope of negative stereotypes, it becomes pro forma in the rules in Lacan’s perspective.
Beauty has been hijacked by the rules of language, but the sentiment has shifted from the vocalized context to the hyperbolic “frame” that is internet culture.
Countries (and the children of those places) are now subject and beholden to the whims and desires of what technology platforms are supposedly championing “beauty”. By supporting or suppressing certain people who may fall outside of the mainstream or normative standards of what is considered “beautiful”, many find themselves using their identity as a symbol of rebellion or appeasement.
It’s not the duty of the individual to make themselves “beautiful”, but for us all to realize that everyone IS beautiful, there is nothing to change. The only circumstances that inferentially are standards to be championed are those that are healthy habits that lend us to live more fruitfully and gracefully as humans to one another.
By the way, does this algorithm make me look fat? :/