Television, social platforms and advertisements are full of them: successful, rich and irresistibly attractive people. Their pretty faces, their beguiling smiles and glamourous appearances have a great influence on our idea of being beautiful. In our recent society beauty is a privilege, which leads to success, money and an unbridled lovelife. We strive for being equal to them. We envy them for their beauty, their fame and their lifestyle. At the same time it is obvious, that this world of glamour and flawlessness is moreoften a world of sham and pretence. High prices are paid for a beautyful face or a slim figure. Being under pressure to fit into a certain beauty ideal, the people in our society are victims of a beauty mania, which demands a lot. Not only a ridiculous high consumption of cosmetics and beauty products, but also more drastic measures like cosmetic surgeries or symptomes like anorexia and bulimia can be seen as a sign for that. But let us imagine a world without this beauty competition. A world, in which everyone is equally pretty due to a compulsory cosmetic surgery as a teenager.
Scott Westerfeld creates such a scenery in his young dystopian fiction novel “Uglies” and takes a critical approach to a society, which is only based on being pretty. On the basis of this book, I want to have a closer look on our modern beauty ideals and how they influence our recent society. Or rather how our society influences beauty ideals. What problems arise with this beauty mania? What does Westerfeld criticises in his novel? I also want to pay attention on the beauty ideals in a historical context and how they changed over time.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The author
- Summary of the plot
- Tally
- Peris
- Shay
- David
- Dr. Cable
- Az and Maddy
- Beauty ideals over time..
- Prehistory
- Antiquity.
- The middle ages.
- The renaissance.
- The baroque period.
- Classicism and romanticism.
- The 20th century......
- The beauty ideal of today.
- The beauty ideal in "Uglies" and parallels to our recent society.
- Cosmetic surgery and modern beauty trends as a part of our society.
- Cosmetic surgery in “Uglies” and criticism of our recent society..
- Elements of dystopian fiction in the book.
- The story takes place in the future
- The young age of a female protagonist.
- Uniformity ......
- Mind control and monitoring..
- The inside and the outside world.
- Resistance and awakening
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the concept of beauty ideals and their influence on society, drawing parallels between Scott Westerfeld's dystopian novel "Uglies" and contemporary societal trends. The main objective is to analyze how "Uglies" criticizes our modern obsession with beauty and the consequences of a society built on cosmetic perfection. This includes examining historical shifts in beauty standards and the role of cosmetic surgery in shaping contemporary ideals.
- The impact of beauty ideals on individual identity and societal norms.
- The role of cosmetic surgery and its implications for self-perception and societal pressure.
- The critique of dystopian societies and their control mechanisms, particularly related to beauty standards.
- The significance of nature and authenticity in resisting imposed beauty ideals.
- The exploration of individual freedom and choice within a society obsessed with conformity.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The novel "Uglies" presents a dystopian world where beauty is the ultimate social currency. Citizens undergo mandatory cosmetic surgery at age sixteen, transforming them into "pretties" and relocating them to a seemingly utopian New Pretty Town. The protagonist, Tally Youngblood, eagerly anticipates this transformation, but her perspective gradually shifts as she encounters those who resist the societal norm. Tally's friendship with Shay, who chooses to remain "ugly" and join a community called "the Smoke," challenges her pre-conceived notions about beauty and societal expectations. As Tally navigates between these two worlds, she learns about the manipulation behind the "pretty" surgery and the consequences of conformity. The story explores themes of individual choice, societal control, and the importance of authenticity, highlighting the potential for rebellion against imposed beauty standards.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts explored in this essay encompass beauty ideals, dystopian fiction, cosmetic surgery, societal pressure, individual freedom, and the critical analysis of "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld. The essay delves into themes of conformity, rebellion, and the search for authenticity in a society obsessed with physical perfection. Furthermore, it examines the historical evolution of beauty standards and their influence on contemporary societal trends.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, Beauty ideals and cosmetic surgery in Scott Westerfeld's novel "Uglies", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/459805
