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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The author
3. Summary of the plot
4. The main characters
4.1 Tally
4.2 Peris
4.3 Shay
4.4 David
4.5 Dr. Cable
4.6 Az and Maddy
5. Beauty ideals over time
5.1 Prehistory
5.2 Antiquity
5.3 The middle ages
5.4 The renaissance
5.5 The baroque period
5.6 Classicism and romanticism
5.7 The 20th century
6. The beauty ideal of today
7. The beauty ideal in “Uglies” and parallels to our recent society
8. Cosmetic surgery and modern beauty trends as a part of our society
9. Cosmetic surgery in “Uglies” and criticism of our recent society
10. Elements of dystopian fiction in the book
10.1 The story takes place in the future
10.2 The young age of a female protagonist
10.3 Uniformity
10.4 Mind control and monitoring
10.5 The inside and the outside world
10.6 Resistance and awakening
11. Conclusion
12. Bibliography and appendix
Objectives and Core Themes
The paper examines the intersection of contemporary beauty ideals and the influence of cosmetic surgery, using Scott Westerfeld’s dystopian novel "Uglies" as a framework to critique current societal pressures. It explores the historical evolution of beauty standards and investigates how mass media and institutional norms condition individuals to seek uniformity through artificial means.
- The historical development and shifting nature of beauty ideals across different eras.
- The socio-cultural impact of cosmetic surgery and its perception in modern society.
- Dystopian elements in fiction as a reflection of real-world societal manipulation.
- The psychological consequences of striving for an unachievable, standardized aesthetic.
- The role of media and "influencers" in promoting beauty-related self-doubt among adolescents.
Excerpt from the Book
Cosmetic surgery in “Uglies” and criticism of our recent society
In the dystopian world of Westerfeld’s novel, cosmetic surgery is not only accepted by society, but now an obligatory part of life. The operation consists of bone stretching, a complete renewal of the skin, liposuction and the implantation of artificial plastic pieces to reshape cheekbones and other parts of the body. “They rubbed you raw, and you grew all new skin, perfect and clear. The old marks of accidents and bad food and childhood illnesses all washed away. A clean start.” (Westerfeld, 2005, 24). That means that every piece of the former life as an ugly and even personality gets altered by the operation. In the beginning of the story, Tally can not wait to finally get her operation and therefore have a new “clean start” (ibid.). She is obsessed with the world of the pretties and can be described as blinded by their flawlessness. It was only when she met Shay, that she bit by bit realized what was behind this whole thing about becoming pretty.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the influence of media and beauty standards on modern society and introduces the novel "Uglies" as a critical counter-narrative.
2. The author: Provides a biographical overview of Scott Westerfeld and his literary background, including the "Uglies" series.
3. Summary of the plot: Details the journey of protagonist Tally Youngblood, from her life in Uglyville to her experiences in the Smoke and her eventual resistance.
4. The main characters: Profiles the key figures in the novel, analyzing their motivations, development, and roles within the societal structure.
5. Beauty ideals over time: Surveys the historical changes in beauty standards from prehistoric times through the 20th century.
6. The beauty ideal of today: Discusses current beauty standards and the influence of social media on modern body perception.
7. The beauty ideal in “Uglies” and parallels to our recent society: Compares the fictional beauty standards of the novel with real-world aesthetic pressures.
8. Cosmetic surgery and modern beauty trends as a part of our society: Analyzes the rising acceptance and normalization of surgical interventions and cosmetic procedures.
9. Cosmetic surgery in “Uglies” and criticism of our recent society: Explores how the novel uses cosmetic surgery to mirror and critique contemporary societal control and the loss of individual identity.
10. Elements of dystopian fiction in the book: Examines specific thematic components of the novel that categorize it as dystopian, such as mind control and state surveillance.
11. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings and highlights the necessity of media literacy and critical thinking in education.
12. Bibliography and appendix: Lists the sources and supporting visual materials utilized in the study.
Keywords
Beauty ideals, Cosmetic surgery, Dystopian fiction, Scott Westerfeld, Uglies, Body modification, Social media, Influencers, Brain washing, Uniformity, Identity, Mass media, Societal control, Adolescence, Self-image.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper primarily explores the societal obsession with beauty and the role of cosmetic surgery, analyzing how these themes are depicted in Scott Westerfeld’s novel "Uglies" to criticize current cultural trends.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include the historical evolution of beauty, the impact of modern beauty industries, the dangers of enforced uniformity, and the role of fiction in fostering critical thinking about societal norms.
What is the main research objective?
The research aims to understand how our modern society influences beauty ideals and, conversely, how those beauty ideals are utilized to control or shape the behavior of individuals.
Which methodology is applied in this study?
The study utilizes a literary analysis of "Uglies" combined with a sociocultural review of historical beauty ideals and current media influence to draw parallels between the fictional world and reality.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers a historical overview of beauty standards, an analysis of the novel's plot and characters, and a discussion on the dystopian elements present in the story, such as mind control and forced surgery.
What are the primary keywords that characterize this work?
Key terms include beauty ideals, cosmetic surgery, dystopian fiction, body modification, uniformity, and societal control.
How does the novel specifically link surgery to mind control?
The paper discusses the discovery within the story that the mandatory "pretty" surgery causes brain lesions, which serves to make the population compliant, conformist, and easier for the government to control.
What is the significance of "The Smoke" in the narrative?
The Smoke serves as a counter-world or hideaway for those who resist the mandatory surgery, representing a return to nature and a life defined by freedom rather than artificial beauty standards.
Why does the author of the paper believe this book should be used in schools?
The author argues that "Uglies" helps students develop awareness of societal manipulation, encourages critical questioning of beauty standards, and promotes values of tolerance and respect for individual identity.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, Beauty ideals and cosmetic surgery in Scott Westerfeld's novel "Uglies", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/459805
