Bradley University: Body & Beauty Standards
With images of ideal beauty bombarding us daily, it is easy to forget that standards of beauty are arbitrary and they vary greatly both from one culture to another and over time. Such variations in ideals of beauty often reflect the roles women and men are expected to fulfill in a given society. For instance, in contexts where women are valued mainly for their fertility—their ability to bear and nurture children—often full-bodied women with broad hips and ample breasts are considered the most beautiful. In societies such as Fiji, large bodies are a symbol of one’s status and power. But as social conditions and gender roles change, so do ideas about beauty. Why is the American body ideal for women so thin today? Does this tell us anything about the roles we expect men and women to fulfill? Can you think of any “plus-size” celebrities today?
Male Bodies and Beauty throughout the ages | The Macaronis
We have to acknowledge that in this day and age – as it has forever been – beauty matters. Our definition of beauty is based on the media saturation which we are bombarded with on a daily basis. For instance, the idea of tanned = gorgeous has only appeared recently — it would stand to reason that with all the lead-based paints and powder that was used, pale was beautiful as it indicated that you had no need to stand about in the sun all day. As a society, we perceive people who have traits which we consider admirable: self restraint, indefatigable dedication to an idea, sacrifice to epitomise the current standards of beauty – mirrored so closely in the way we view the working world. Personally, all that leaves me completely cold. why yes, that is a plastic knigget on a my little pony Of course, lacking a tardis, I can’t go back in time and drag examples of said bodies to parade before you. For the time periods, I’m shamelessly nicking the structure of “The List” from Speak Its Name.
How men's perfect body types have changed throughout history
A precursor to the fop, the Macaronis were originally British young men who went abroad, fell in love with the Italian food "maccaroni" and the European style of dress. According to historian Geri Walton, the men would commonly order maccaroni to show off that they recently visited Italy and eventually got the nickname "macaronis." From the 1775 book Easy Phraseology, Joseph Baretti wrote "Strange, that this word has so much changed of its meaning in coming from Italy to England: that in Italy it should mean a block-head, a fool; and mean in England a man fond of pompous and affected dress!" They began to wear more fashionable and slightly feminine clothing. A trim figure was preferred as their many layers clung to the body. Basically, they were the hipsters of their day. Eventually, Macaronis became a laughing stock. People resented this womanly look and it soon fell out of fashion and placed a greater importance on looking properly masculine.
DESDE LA PREHISTORIA AL S. XX | LOS CÁNONES DE BELLEZA A LO LARGO DE LA HISTORIA
El cuerpo humano debía estar armónicamente proporcionado, utilizaban el puño como unidad de medida, así codificaron la estatura perfecta de las personas en 18 puños: 2 para el rostro, 10 desde los hombros hasta las rodillas y los 6 restantes para las piernas y los pies. En consecuencia, una mujer o un hombre eran “bellos” si medían 18 veces su propio puño y estaban debidamente proporcionados como establecía el canon. Según el canon de belleza egipcio una mujer debía ser delgada, con pequeños miembros pero de caderas anchas y pechos pequeños y torneados, solían ensalzar su belleza mediante joyas y bisutería. Su preocupación por mantener el cuerpo lo mas perfecto posible, les llevo a conocer muy bien la naturaleza para obtener de ella todos aquellos productos que les ayudase a conseguirlo. Los egipcios no se preocupan por su cuerpo ni más ni menos de lo que lo hacemos hoy en día. GRECIA (S. La belleza dependía de la intervención de Dios como consecuencia del auge del cristianismo. 1. 2. 3.
Sexualidad y erotismo en la Prehistoria | Revista Internacional de Andrología
La investigación arqueológica y antropológica permite interpretar de forma objetiva el modo de vida de nuestros ancestros, y el estudio del arte paleolítico proporciona muchas pistas acerca de cómo los individuos de aquella época interpretaban el entorno y se comportaban. No sólo su interés por la reproducción, sino también su sexualidad quedan patentes en algunas de sus obras. No cabe duda de que la reproducción humana durante la última glaciación permitió la supervivencia de la especie en lo que constituye uno de los mejores ejemplos de nuestra capacidad adaptativa. Hace 25-15 mil años (ka), en plena última glaciación Würm, las condiciones climáticas fueron extraordinariamente duras. El clima era muy frío y seco, aunque hubo algunos períodos cortos en los que estas condiciones mejoraron. En aquella época la población humana era muy limitada. El arte prehistórico nace, posiblemente, como una respuesta sicológica a la ansiedad generada por un entorno misterioso y casual. Figura 1. Dr.
