Wow, that's an oldie. The sort of thing your grandmother would say, right?
As I mentioned, I've just finished reading "The Beauty Myth." And, I've also mentioned that I think the concepts in that book could actually be applied to just about anyone.
One of the major concepts is that a consumer society strives to keep its citizens focused on things outside of themselves, in order to manufacture "need." You see, in order to need something you have to not already have it. Or enough of it.
So, the beauty myth keeps women always looking outward, toward ideals, and away from their true selves.
This is the exact opposite of art.
Art is about what is inside, it is a way people have of taking what they have inside them and making it visible. Writing does the same thing. Same with music.
So you could argue that in a certain way, the arts are how we counteract this culture of manufactured need. By letting people express what they have inside, and giving them lots of ways to do that, we acknowledge that an inside exists. And that it does not "need" external things to be fabulous.
2 comments:
i couldnt agree with you more. but i will add that there is something very important about aesthetics including how you look, what you wear, what your house looks etc. i have respect for people who 'maintain' them selves.
tali
Indeed, aethetics are important - which of course are something that you choose and that are different for different people - what I find amazing about mass-marketed image is that it has nothing to do with aesthetics and everything to do with convincing lots of people that they are inadequate so they will spend money.
Post a Comment