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The Leaning Tower of Pisa is known for its beauty and uniqueness. It stands at an angle displaying architecture unlike any other. It was built between wars and political issues that extended it's construction for 200 years from 1173 to 1372. -
Created by Johannes Vermeer, this painting stars a woman with her hair wrapped up, illuminated by the beautiful light coming from the left. The artist carefully depicted the beautiful shadows and mixed them in with skillfully demonstrated light. You can't help but want to dig deeper into the art history this painting consists of. -
In his critique, Immanuel tries explaining how and why we experience things as beautiful, and why the judgement of beauty is universal. He argues that when something is beautiful, we enjoy it without feeling the need to possess or own it. Immanuel believes that beauty and pleasure is not tied to desire or purpose. -
Enchanted by his own youth and beauty, Dorian makes a wish: he will remain forever young and beautiful, while the portrait bears the marks of age and sin. The novel follows Dorian’s descent into hedonism, corruption, and moral decay, while his outward appearance remains flawless. Dorian manipulates people through his attractiveness. He disguises his cruel, selfish acts behind his "innocence" and beauty. -
The industrialization caused the spread of makeup and consumer beauty products. This alone changed what society perceived as beauty. Women that craved social approval now had to learn to do their makeup. Not only that but now women could alter the way in which they look. It became an insecurity that women don't look beautiful if they aren't wearing makeup, which is a great misconception. -
Helen, often interpreted as Helen of Troy, is praised as the classical symbol of beauty in this poem. Poe describes beauty as something more than physical, but as something sacred. Throughout the poem, the speaker recalls Helen's beauty as a source of inspiration and in moments of despair. Poe provides a unique perspective to beauty, demonstrating it as elevating, perhaps even untouchable. -
Through the eyes of Emerson, nature is the first and most direct source of beauty. To him, nature's beauty is universal and creates a sense of peace and joy in the observer. Not only that but he also believes that there's a moral beauty, and that beautiful actions are worth more than beautiful objects. -
Alexander Bassano throughout his career did a great job capturing what the definition of beauty was in the 1800s. His work captures the style that was considered, elegant, fashionable, respectable, and beautiful. In this photograph specifically, Lillie Langtry is dressed in what was the modern wear in the 1900s. -
Beginning in 1887, the construction of this tower was monumental. This huge engineering achievement became one of the biggest symbols of France. In the 1920s it began to be associated with romance, love, and beauty. When taking a look at the Eiffel Tower, you can't help but be amazed by its beauty. This masterpiece changed the meaning of beauty in architecture. -
Throughout this play, beauty is connected to class privilege and gender expectations. Julie's attractiveness and beauty is intimidating and symbolizes her untouchable class, something to be admired but not approached. In other words, her beauty gives her a hierarchy. However, she takes advantage of her beauty and uses it to rebel against her social class. Strindberg shows that beauty can't protect Julie from the consequences of crossing the lines. https://youtu.be/ykQRCn0Qs48?si=4uisBXYnjXDeNawG -
Louis Lumière in his work with film history focused on a new way of showing the beauty of real life. He typically captured the world as it was, but somehow made it poetic. He typically showed ordinary people doing ordinary things, but he highlighted them in a way that made it beautiful. He captures a family having their dinner. The baby with the two parents, being fed. Something so simple but the way in which he portrayed it, made it more special. https://youtu.be/Uwkp0tREK0w?si=v0Fjc_eugdxOrWUy -
Cyrano de Bergerac follows Cyrano, a gifted poet, and idealist. He’s brilliant but also has a very large nose. He's talented but, Cyrano believes his appearance makes him unworthy of love. He is secretly in love with Roxane. However Christian, a handsome man capture's Roxane's heart with the help of love letters written by Cyrano. Roxane believes Christian has the mix of physical beauty and poetic genius, creating a battle two kinds of beauty. https://youtu.be/CzPgLYFnwD4?si=FCscnC8lMU3je8NQ -
Between 1900s and 1930s, the beauty and cosmetics mass-market production was born. Beauty was turned into and industry and it transformed from something associated with stage performers to a mainstream consumer product. This is where the era of beauty that we know now, was born. Through this, beauty and makeup became a symbol of modern femininity. -
The play Pygmalion covers the story of a young girl called Eliza Doolittle and her professor Henry Higgins makes it his mission to transform her into a "lady" by simply teaching her how to speak in a proper manner. While her physical beauty doesn't change much, this play rather discusses the way society perceives her beauty through the way she speaks and addresses them. Shaw wonderfully exposes how beauty doesn't only have to do with physical features. -
Set in a Spanish village, this play is centered around Bernarda Alba and her control over her daughters while grieving the loss of her husband. Bernarda treats her daughters' beauty as something dangerous that must be controlled. They were very closely monitored, specifically interactions with men. In this play, beauty is seen as a symbol of forbidden desire, as Bernarda exercises her power. https://youtu.be/rRPkVt7GmkE?si=cjO26Sdzn4OnGOpr -
This landscape photograph captures nature's impressive beauty and overwhelming power. The combination of the dark mountains, bright clouds that wander through them and the light that shines over the mountains along with the boulders that lay on the foreground that are outlined by shadows make for a great picture. Adams does an incredible job including different aspects of nature. -
In this play, Maggie the protagonist, uses her beauty as a tool to fight her way into stability. Her beauty has given her the ability to charm and social leverage. Even though she's beautiful, it does nothing for her husband, Brick. Brick is emotionally withdrawn and rejects Maggie's sexuality since he is grieving the loss of his friend. Maggie is battling with her beauty, because what's been beneficial all her life, is now failing. https://youtu.be/b4fr_ZzaDV0?si=tRFe3eEFJku0r0hQ -
In this beautiful song Presley captures the importance of both emotional and physical beauty. Not only that but his profound tone allows for the audience to feel his words and his description of beauty in his eyes. This song is fueled by beauty and the love Presley has for it. https://youtu.be/TmnqKmgesw4?si=qq6Kix-CroTuDk8c