Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Notion of Beauty

Today in Senior Seminar we discussed the notion of beauty. Who determines what is considered beautiful? Why is something considered beautiful at one time and not at another?

The idea of Beauty is dependant on the culture and time in which we live. For instance, at one time overweight was considered beautiful. Why? Because someone who was overweight was well fed and thus could produce offspring. Youth was beautiful. Fertility was beautiful. Look at all of the paintings of Rubenesque women from the Renaissance. These women were full figured -- the ideal of health.

It was also during this time that women with fair skin were considered beautiful. Those who worked in the fields were tanned. So those who were fair skinned could have a leisure lifestyle and be well-fed. Marie-Antoinette's mole was not beautiful -- until it ended up on her face. Does this indicate that those who were wealthy were considered beautiful?



Peter Paul Rubens. Venus und Adonis. Um 1615
Sammlung der Kunstakademie Düsseldorf NRW


I don't know the answer to that, but it does make me consider what has been considered beautiful in more recent years. At one time, tan was considered beautiful (didn't need to work indoors at a typewriter). Now, due to skin cancer, tan is no longer considered beautiful. Now athletic is beautiful - as these people could afford a personal trainer. So, is it related to wealth? Maybe.

Think about what else is determined by wealth - size of houses (McMansions), large cars, spreading lawns.....

The lawn is a rather new idea. Once again, the lawn was an indicator of wealth. Those who were not wealthy grew food. Those who were wealthy could afford formal gardens and lawns. Gardens would be hidden the rear of the house. Now we grow lawns instead of food. We put fertilizers on our lawns and carefully tend them. We water for what? Appearance. The notion of beauty. A notion of beauty that was determined by the wealthy.

Can we (instead of celebrities or the wealthy) decide what is beautiful? Let's take back beauty. Let's determine for ourselves. I have decided to dig up my useless lawn and am planning an urban edible landscape. Food. Food is beautiful.

7 comments:

Jeff Dahlberg said...

Well said.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but it is also in the mind of the beautiful. Why is it that we allow industry to define beauty in such a way that a large number of people don't believe in their minds that they are beautiful.

I look forward to your posts detailing the de-lawning of a Minnesota home. We are also considering this move to something more natural and useful.

Anonymous said...

Beauty is very subjective, I'm very interested in your de-lawning. Will your garden be the typical rectangular plot? Will you only grow in the borders as I did to 'fit in' the neighborhood? Will you pick the more decorative vegetable plants to be useful and pretty? Whatever you do, it's better than just a lawn. There are books on having an "edible landscape" altho I don't recall the title or author.

Emme said...

I have not yet decided exactly what I will do. I only have one appropriate area to grow a garden and this is in the front yard. Our back yard is extremely shady.

We recently put in a path in our front yard (with freecycled stone and brick). I think that I will have the entire area to one side of the path as a garden. I plan on mixing veggies, fruits, and flowers. I am looking at path to freedom and Edible Estates for inspiration. It can be very beautiful.

I have one neighbor who is against the idea. He says that it will hurt the resale value of homes in the area. Instead, I hope that I can inspire others to do the same.

BurdockBoy said...

It's funny how common things are often regarded as not beautiful. I remember as a child thinking how beautiful dandelions were, but now they seem so plain. Still, humans find beauty in things that are maintained. A lawn looks maintained that's why so many people like them-even if they aren't very practicle.

Good luck on your garden yard. Food not Lawns!

Blue said...

We're on the same wavelength - I've been planning my new front yard edible garden. I am planning put in raised beds and landscape them - I think a bed filled with lettuce would be beautiful. I'm looking forward to reading about your progress. I'm feeling a bit intimidated about the whole project.

Bellen said...

The author's name is Rosalind Creasy - she's considered one of the founders of the edible landscape movement. She has many books to her credit, should be able to find them at the library. If you are not aware of this company, Le Jardin du Gourmet, they offer tiny packets of aabout 30 seeds for less than $1.00. Great way to try new varieties of veggies, herbs and edible flowers.

Anonymous said...

simplereduce.blogspot.com; You saved my day again.