On the Subject of Beauty

After debating this issue with my cousins, this is my final verdict and is what I'm handing in to my Professor.

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Objective vs. Subjective Beauty

Beauty, according to Dr. Stephen Marquardt, a former plastic surgeon, is found in a mask he designed, comprised of an arrangement of 40 golden decagons of six different sizes and in the "golden ratio" of 1.618-to-1 (tlc.discovery.com). Dr. Marquardt says that "beauty is a mechanism to ensure humans recognize and are attracted to other humans," and because his mask is in the form of the "golden rectangle"-a shape that is easily recognized-it is "the most beautiful shape a human face can have" (Jones). If Dr. Marquardt's theory is to taken as truth, it stands to reason that beauty must be absolutely objective which is, in fact, in direct opposition to the old proverb which says, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." While it is true that humans find shapes which are easily recognized attractive and therefore beautiful, that shape does not necessarily have to be in the "golden ratio" to be considered the most beautiful. In fact, what humans find to be attractive and beautiful is just as diverse as the very nature of a diverse humanity, i.e., beauty is equally as subjective as it is objective.

Recognition of the familiar is a key element of Dr. Marquardt's beauty theory. While it cannot be denied that humans with a face in the shape of his particular mask are indeed beautiful, could it not also be argued that a mother's face-no matter what physical defects it may have or how old it is- is just as beautiful to her child? Who is to say that beauty must be contained within a "golden ratio"? Beauty cannot be contained within a tidy little "box," for to do so would defy the very nature of beauty itself.

The issue then is not what shape is the most beautiful but rather what qualifies as beauty to the beholder. True beauty goes beyond shapes and sizes and is found instead in the intangible things in life. It is found, not in the equation of a golden ratio, but rather in the equation of the human experience. While every object or person contains an element of objective beauty, i.e., beauty contained within the object itself, it is, however, the subjective quality of beauty that supercedes the physical beauty--every time. The more familiar a person becomes with the object-whether it be a painting or a person's face-the more beautiful it will become as it is integrated into that person's life experiences.

Clearly then, while the subjective quality of beauty builds off of the objective, beauty itself truly is perceived by the beholder. One's ability to see the lovely in the unlovely, however, is, in fact, the most important aspect of all. The person who sees and is attracted to surface beauty only and discards those things or people found to be unattractive at first glance should be unduly reminded that this is merely a reflection of his/her own inner quality of beauty. After all, objective beauty lasts but for a season, but subjective beauty lasts a lifetime.

-K. S.

New Beginnings

Here it is well past the middle of January. One of my resolutions for this year was to better organize myself. At the top of my list was to be more conscientious about pulling my keys and guarding my purse. I have this habit of just leaving my keys and purse in the car... with the door locked, of course, accessible through the door's keypad. And then the Maria-Thing Happened (someone stole her business deposit right out of her car) which put a bit of a scare into me--hence, the New Resolution.

So tonight on my way to my Art Appreciation class, I squeezed into a faculty parking lot to save myself some steps in the FREEZING weather. It is SOOOO cold right now... we are hovering around the zero degree thingy, although today it did get up to about 30 at one point, I think. I made sure I pulled my keys . I had locked everything up when I noticed that my purse was sitting there in plain sight. So I quickly unlocked the car, retrieved the purse, and locked it into the trunk.

I went to the library after class to work on my homework. I finished up about nine and then ambled on out into the chilly night to my car. I punched in my security code and then realized that I had forgotten to re-lock the door when I had put my purse in the trunk. I mentally chastised myself for being so careless. Still thinking about it, I got into the car and prepared to leave. I had parked on the very end and was thinking I could just drive straight ahead instead of having to back out, but in my preoccupation with the purse thing, I forgot that there was a certain Something in front of the car. My forward launch was not a gentle one for I was in a hurry to get home. First thing I knew, I had CRUNCHED down on top of a cement parking block. I slammed on the brakes, and I was almost certain I could feel the distinct bump of the block bulging up under my feet. Oh dear!! The last time I did that type of thing, I had to get my oil pan replaced to the tune of $300. I decided that since I was closer to the front end than the back end, I should back up. Oh, but that was painful--somewhat akin to that of the scratching of a chalkboard. And for a moment, I thought I was literally suspended up on top of that mini-mountain with no traction and was imagining having to turn into a she-Hercules in order to lift my car up over the hump. Fortunately, this was not necessary, and I made it off with much trembling and scratching. As I made my way out, I kept glancing in the mirror, halfway expecting to see a stream of oil running out behind me. Daybreak will tell what I've done <>.

So I suppose the year has been properly initiated now, and I can expect more Things of this Nature to keep happening [why me, Lord?]. So much for new beginnings.

My classes [since I'm sure you're just dying to know about them].... This semester's schedule is the worst one yet, although I think the classes are of such content that I don't have to just dread, loathe, or despise any of them. I have Math 116 at 8:00, M-F. William and Crystal are in my class, so it was like a little reunion for us. You actually get kind've attached to these people, ya know? So that makes that class alright... especially since we're just reviewing so far [I reserve the right to change my tune at any time]. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, right after Math, I have a Cultural Diversity class from 9:05-9:50. This is probably my least favorite class, but it was the lesser of two evils. My other option was Philosophy, as aforementioned; I had the textbooks and everything to that class, and they looked just perfectly awful! So when some slots became available in the Cultural Diversity class--Praise God--I dropped Philosophy as fast I could and signed up for the CDiv. Never mind that I have to write two eight-page papers and that the exams are all essay. I'm just not all that philosophical, if you know what I mean.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, right after Math class, I have German 101. This will take a little effort, but I think overall, it will be a great experience, and I'll develop the knack for it naturally. So far, I've really enjoyed it. I've got a little band of four in the class with whom I "hang." There's a German graduate student who will be hosting "kaffeestunde" every other Friday afternoon for German 101 students at Java City. I think this could be interesting. It's to give beginning students a chance to practice their German. I may have to try it once or twice.

So all three of those classes are in the mornings. Then comes the awkward blurb to my schedule. Art Appreciation is Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-6:15. So I've got about five hours in between my morning classes and the afternoon class on those days to be at work. It really is unhandy, schedule-wise, but I find I'm enjoying the class itself. The teacher is young-ish--my guess is probably low 30's. He says he's not an art historian and doesn't expect us to be either (praise God again). He's been very interesting so far, and he's even offered to teach me how to use my PrismaColor color pencils if I stop by his office sometime. How cool is that?? I've always had artistic inclinations, although undeveloped, so I'm having to battle my feelings of "I'd LOVE to be doing that." So far, however, I've managed to keep myself from switching to an art major. That would be so unpractical. This Prof prefers to be called "Mike." For one class period, Mike showed us nothing but his own work. Amazing. And he told us all the stories behind the works, which made it even better. I've put it on my "Things to Do Before I Die" List. So it's on the shelf, but not forgotten. One of the assignments we have to do for the class is go to a LARGE art museum and then write a paper on a work of art of our choice. We can either go to Nashville or Louisville. I'm thinking I'll go to the one in Louisville at the same time I go up there for Lyle's concert on Feb. 20.

Our first assignment in my art class is to write a paper on the following topic: Is beauty objective or subjective? That is, is beauty contained within the object itself or is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder? There's a doctor by the name of Marquardt who created the perfect mask by which he performs his plastic surgeries. It's composed of 40 different decagons of six different sizes. It comes from what is called the golden rectangle, the same shape as your credit card. Anyway, this doctor's philosophy is that beauty is objective and this mask is the perfect formula to achieve "the most beautiful shape a human face can have." Holly Barry has this perfectly-shaped face. So anyway, we have to write 3/4 page response to this doctor's philosophy. (For more info, check out this url: http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/humanface/articles/mask.html. )

And Now for the Next Semester...

Well, I've been taking classes at WKU since January, 2004--a whole year now. I've been taking General Ed classes both semesters, so those aren't quite as pleasant as I think learning should be. Thank goodness I've gotten some of the nasty ones out of the way though, such as speech and literature. College really is a different world, and I've found myself with a wrinkled brow more than once. But at the same time, what a pleasure it is to actually find a kindred spirit. I try to find at least one "buddy" per class just in case I have to miss class sometime. I then have someone I can ask for homework assignments. In my algebra class, there are three of us who've sort've banded together and formed our own very unique "support group." No meetings or things like that, but if one of us couldn't get a concept, we have someone else to go to clear up the haze. We have all three signed up for the same Algebra 116 class next semester, so I'm not as apprehensive about that class as I am the others. I don't enjoy beginning new classes because you have to start over proving yourself to your new teachers. Most lump you together with the typical college student who skips class and doesn't care about grades, and sometimes it's hard to break out of the box they put you in.

My classes for next semester include another Algebra class, German, Art Appreciation, and ....Philosophy. I can NOT imagine sitting through a Philosophy class, and I've tried my best to get out of it. I was the victim of being in the last group eligible to sign up for classes, and it was literally the only thing left that would fit my very cramped schedule. I've got to have the class in order to keep my one very tiny scholarship I've actually managed to qualify for. In a fit of desperation, I contacted a teacher in a Junior-level class and asked--well, ok..begged--to be let in. He was very nice about it and said it's fine with him. I was put on his waiting list, but wouldn't you know it--once the slot became available, the department wouldn't let me in because I'm not a Junior yet. How discouraging is that? So I'm in the process of appealing it. I submitted a persuasive essay that any English teacher of mine should be proud of. It remains to be seen if it will do any good. I just don't think Plato and Socrates are ready for me yet.