Define: Beauty
The definition of a word is often misunderstood. For some reason it irks me when corporations abuse powerful words in order to sell their product. It's absurd how they're allowed to harness emotion to turn a profit . . .
Lipstick, false tan, fake-eyelashes; despite what the adverts
say, none of this is beautiful - they may help enhance
your appearance towards some twisted template of what
society deems attractive, but physical attractiveness has
next-to-nothing to do with beauty.
And yes, here's where things turn grey and I focus on the
negative, it's a rant! Let it be.
In February 2010 I visited Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp, the horrors and atrocities committed there knew no bounds, the guards had free-reign over the inmates, which led to some of the most vivid tortures and humiliations being devised.
Auschwitz was unlike the other nazi concentration camps, they were constructed to profit from slave labour, their workers would fuel the german war effort by providing the army with munitions and supplies; Auschwitz, however, was simply constructed to destroy.
Oskar Schindler was a rich member of the Nazi Party. On one dreary day, he entered Auschwitz alone, intent on 'rescuing' his workforce from the clutches of death. Later that day, he left through those same gates with over a thousand women & children who would have died had he not acted.
Obviously it was not through mere influence that the camps officers allowed him to leave with those people, Schindler paid dearly for each and every one of them. At the start of the war he was a millionaire enjoying the fairest things in life . . . when it ended however, he was penniless.
The man sunk every last reichsmark he had into saving as many lives as he could, he'd given his all, and now he had nothing left, but he would never celebrate on his success. Rather than be proud of the lives he saved he chose to mourn and feel shame for those that he couldn't. He'd often break down in tears: saying how he'd give anything, everything, just to save one more person.
Look at yourself, right now, what would you give to save just one person?
If you can label it, if you can weigh the life of a human against a percentage of your bank balance; then surely you can see the beauty of Oskar Schindler's actions?
The world's largest population of sufferers of Albinism is in Tanzania. Being that it's in Africa, this may surprise some people.
Though at a higher percentage(1/20,000 as opposed to 1/100,000 in most European countries or America) than usual, it's still pretty easy for an albino to feel alone or be the target of bullying and discrimination.
Witchdoctors and practitioners of voodoo claim that the blood and body of an albino will bring good fortune for whoever . . . uses it. It's distressing to read the reports of what happens, they're hunted, butchered, slaughtered in ways far worse than any animal. It's not just adults either, these attacks are happening against women and children too. There was an article about a five year old girl who was humiliated and chased by an angry mob of 30-or-so 'adults', once they surrounded her in a dark alley, they proceeded to hack at her with cleavers and machetes, severing arms and limbs while she was still conscious. They drained her blood in a public place left only a ruined torso, the rest of her body was harvested for the witchdoctors' potions.
A five year old girl running for her life from an angry mob.
A five year old girl.
As part of a sting operation against several witchdoctors, a reporter video-taped her conversation with them, she recorded them discussing the purchase of albino 'potions'. Her identity and actions were sold to the witchdoctors by members of the police, in exchange for discounts on such potions.
She's received threatening texts and phone-calls from gangs of men, she fears for her life. In an article she wrote she professed to knowing she'd most likely die to these men, her knowledge of their influence in Tanzanian society does nothing for her self-confidence, yet she doesn't regret it. The thought that because of her actions, three witchdoctors are now awaiting trial, is enough for her mind to be at peace. That through her actions, so many more will live who would have otherwise died.
This self-sacrifice and acceptance of a horrible fate, for the price of helping others, is beauteous beyond compare. There's so much more to beauty than a pretty plastic face; empathy is beautiful, let it be the force which guides your actions, not a T.V. advert.
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Ok. Back to language and beauty myths. Have you read The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf? It was written over 20 years ago but still applies. Language has always been used to aid advertisers and to persuade; to villify some and to praise others. I am particularly appalled by words such as "Friendly Fire" or "Collateral Damage", terms that the Americans have invented for their War on "Terror"...Oh and I think "Terrorists" used to be known as "Freedom Fighters"....My least favourite word which is used here to describe anything from an episode of the Karsashians to a good cup of coffee is "Awesome". It used to mean something....like watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon....
Thanks for the opportunity for my own rant!
I doubt if anyone would suggest that the appearance of attractiveness and the actions of extreme altruism are on a par just because they have been discribed by the same adjective, beautiful. If we do choose to use the same word, then it has two very different meanings in each case. Your case for the 'beauty' of Shindler's work, for example, is well argued, although I'm not sure that it is the best word to use (perhaps because of its association with physical attractiveness), but it is, nevertheless, a powerful word to apply to such selfless actions.
I don't think it's fair though, because of that higher meaning, to condemn the use of the word 'beauty' when applied to attractiveness. I think you are mainly decrying its use when describing so called beauty products or treatments. Many such products or treatments may well be open to some derrision, but I see nothing wrong with describing a truely attractive woman, whether or not enhanced by beauty aids, as beautuful.
And there is, too, the whole spectrum of beauty displayed in nature.
I think as writers we learn to choose our words carefully, but I do believe it is right to use 'beauty' in context in relation to physical attractiveness. It's a much stronger word than 'pretty' or 'attractive' and may often be the only word to use. In context, 'beauty' may be just the word to attribute to the work of someone like Schindler, but the two uses are poles apart. They should not be mutually exclusive.
In all honesty, it's just a pet peeve of mine, I should probably have kept it quiet for all the good that'll come from voicing it. But meh, it was late and I had nothing else to post.
Oh, I got a job as a salesman a few days ago, but I quit on my first day - shall I post about that?
I think it's sick the effect they have on the young :/
My grandpa was a POW in a Nazi Concentration Camp and from reading people like Victor Frankl and Elie Wiesel it becomes clear to me that these hellish places robbed all concerned of their humanity. I don't think anyone who wasn't there could even come close to imagining how those people suffered. It remains incumbent upon us all to never forget this greatest of crimes and to ensure that it won't be repeated (although I fear that our species' tendency to commit atrocities is common theme of our history.)
As for the commodification of the human body and the relentless pursuit of the unattainable, I think that this great quote from Tim Jackson, author of Prosperity Without Growth, sums it up better than I ever could: "We are persuaded to spend money we don't have, on things we don't need, to create impressions that won't last, on people we don't care about."
Sorry to hear about your grandpa, that must have been horrible for him . . . and your family. I could never read too much into the goings-on of such places, it upsets me too much.
How would I go about pronouncing your name, by the way? I'm awfully daft with pronunciations :P
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