Beauty Lies within the Mind of an Individual and Not the Physical Appearance - Essay Example

Formal Outline Introduction The health and beauty industries have all along encouraged us to think of our bodies in terms of machines, something that needs to be constantly dressed up to please and be pleased. Millions and millions of dollars are pumped into research, advertising, and production with a single aim; an aim targeted at benefiting these conglomerates at the expense of one's personal health and personality. Does this reflect the true picture of what humanity stands for today Definitely not! Television, Movies, Magazines and the Internet instigate the unsuspecting viewer to ape modern day celebrities as our role model to success and happiness. The cynosure is for all to see. Let's not forget that we, as individuals, have a personality, unique in itself and equally appealing. Set the scene. 'Mirror, mirror, on the wall, show me the one, I desire'. Does ring a bell, doesn't it You may argue that, not quite. Well, I don't disagree. Welcome to the world of the make-believe, where people from all walks of life, bent upon perfection, abuse their bodies to reflect the personality that they never are. The men and women on the street, ape celebrities and subsequently suffer for the sake of their appearance. Statement of the main idea The idea of monitoring, measuring, and enhancing is a means to underline the fact that, companies that advertise so profusely in the various Medias, do so for their betterment and growth. Little is said about the after effects of these 'personality-enhancement' products. This is a cause of concern, as people are misled to believing that these health and beauty products are a sure way to success and self-esteem. In short, the ploy to inculcate such demeaning methods is an imposition of unreasonable standards on the consumer. Statement of the specific points to be covered in this essay Is everything that we see in front of our eyes true It can be misleading at times. FTV, Vogue, Hollywood and the Internet have a lot in common; Fashion. Yes, ladies and gentlemen; fashion, that you and me admire and wish to model ourselves on. Media plays an important role in influencing out thoughts. If it not were for the TV, Movies, Magazines, and Internet, would we be indulgent and self-conscious Not quite, perhaps. First Main Idea Has it ever dawned on you that what we see on these Medias is nothing short of make-believe Channels beam the rich and famous in hour-glass costumes that cost the earth. We tend to forget the cost, and dream of their bodies as our own. We are made to believe that the slim, underbred women in sexy gowns that cost a fortune, symbolises the successful and dynamic woman of today. Sadly, this is far from the truth. First subordinate idea The names of Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Carmen Marc Valvo, Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, and Elie Saab, to name a few, are breakfast names. They dish out dresses that are show-cased by the skinniest of skinniest models; role models for the never-say-die women of today. But, in reality, are they really as healthy and happy as we are made to believe in Consider the following: First supporting detail The Fashion magnates have all along encouraged unreasonable & unhealthy body images at fashion shows. They have used models who are ultra thin to promote clothes that only they can wear. Luisel Ramos died on the catwalk & Ana Carolina Reston died of starvation. Second supporting detail The sudden demise of Anna Nicole Smith has come as a shock to the film and modelling fraternity. What could have caused the death of this pretty 39 year old Surrounded by controversy right through her chequered career, this ravishing beauty was struck down by an unknown calamity that will go down in history as being under controversial circumstances. Third supporting detail London Fashion Week got under way on Monday with the ongoing debate over ultra-skinny models continuing to dominate proceeding over styles on the catwalk. The untimely deaths caused due to starvation have practically removed skinny models from the ramp in Milan and Madrid. The euphoria of the wave of concern has been knocking on the doors of the British Fashion Council, who have dismissed the regulations as 'neither desirable nor enforceable', saying that their fashion houses only used healthy looking models aged 16 or over (CNN.com, 2007).1 Second Main idea STYLE BEAUTY AWARDS 2007: Which beauty products have changed your life over the past 12 months Which ones have kept you looking hot and feeling fabulous We want to know. Vote for your favourite budget and prestige beauty products now (Don't forget to read the Terms and Conditions) read the headline on the February 11th issue of the 'Sunday Times'. Yes! It takes a bit to read between the lines. Health and beauty products come with an incentive, an incentive that can have severe repercussions on one's body and mind (TimesOnline, 2007).2. First subordinate idea Cosmetics are made form combining chemicals that can give instant results to one's appearance. However, the long time effects of these chemicals on the skin can be pretty bad and at times fatal. First supporting detail During her reign, Queen Elizabeth I started a fashion for pale skin that caught the imagination of other women in England, who began to paint their faces with a cream made from powdered white lead, egg white and vinegar. Though this application left the ladies faces temporarily shiny in appearance, little did they realise the noxious effects of lead paint on skin. The effects were catastrophic and included death Second supporting detail Third main idea The effect of cosmetic surgery is not permanent. The effects of a facelift, for example, can last for up to ten years, depending on the elasticity of your skin, your age and how much your skin is exposed to the sun. Over time, the effects of breast implants will diminish and the breasts will sag. If you have any kind of implant, make sure you check how long they will last and whether they will need to be replaced. First subordinate idea Take the cases of Sharon Stone and Michael Jackson. They both had a stint under a surgeon's knife to make them unusually different and have paid the price. This is something for all to learn from. Is plastic surgery a solution to the problem Every individual is unique in his or her own way. First supporting detail In the words of Nina Louisa in, Letters, Marie Claire, "I felt sad after reading 'and the winner of Miss Plastic Surgery is I am far from perfect, but I'm proud of the way I look because it is me. I often see girls who are spitting image for each other, with identical straightened, highlighted hair and matching outfits. Why can't we celebrate our own uniqueness" (Marie Claire, Letters, p.14, January 2006)3. Second supporting detail L Fenwick, another advent reader of Marie Claire had this to say, "I've considered plastic surgery, but feel shamed that people cannot accept who they are. Modelling ourselves on others takes away our individuality and what makes us special" (Marie Claire, Letters, p.20, December 2005)4 Conclusion In conclusion, it can be safely said that beauty lies within the mind of an individual and not the physical appearance. The so-called beauty that we see on television, movies, magazines and the internet is for our viewing pleasure and not to imitate. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For the best of all, let's not redefine the creation of the almighty. All individuals born on earth are equally attractive and unique in their respective ways. Restatement of the main idea Media is for entertainment, news and views. There are things to learn from them. Setting goals based on propaganda will only lead to trouble, unless the pros and cons are weighed properly. The images of lean women, the men and women who have undergone plastic surgery to correct figures, and attractive women under the guise of chemical coats are all fine to view. Self-esteem and confidence is in-built. What needs to be done is to accept your personality as the way it is and show the world how confident one can be. Janna, 24, wore a long flowery skirt, a white T-shirt and a grey, zip-up cardigan. When asked about her clothes, she explained, "Most of us like to make our own clothes or adapt ordinary purchases to create our own appearance. We're more concerned with expressing ourselves than with being clothes horses for designers. We like to do it for fun or to invent something lovely-looking, but more for ourselves than for men; we don't bother what men think, or women, come to that." (TimesOnline, 2007) Restatement of the main points and how they relate to each other Studies, such as those by the Australian psychologist Shaun Saunders, who says that, attraction-driven women are prone to an obsessive concern with their weight, a love of cosmetics, expensive brands and willing to countenance cosmetic surgery, that they are also more likely to suffer depression and eating disorders (TimesOnline, 2007)5. Significance of the topic and your discussion of it A majority of people on this planet consider external beauty to be the secret to success and happiness. This is far from true. What we are indirectly doing is giving in to temptation and ending up on the surgeon's table. Remember the story of Adam and Eve It was temptation that led to their down fall. Should the same happen to us as well In my opinion it should definitely not! Read More