Beauty around the World : A Cultural Encyclopedia / Erin Kenny and Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kenny, Erin, author.

Nichols, Elizabeth Gackstetter, author.

Contributor:

Nichols, Elizabeth Gackstetter.

Series:

Gale eBooks

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Beauty, Personal--Cross-cultural studies.

Beauty, Personal.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiv, 416 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

New York : Bloomsbury Publishing (US), 2023.

Place of Publication:

Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, 2017.

System Details:

text file HTML

Summary:

Taking the concept of beauty seriously, this encyclopedia examines how humanity has sought and continues to seek what is "beautiful" in a variety of cultural contexts, giving readers an understanding of how to look at beauty both intellectually and critically. Is beauty ever more than "skin deep"? Arguably yes, considering that the concept of beauty-and the pursuit of it-has shaped cultures worldwide, across every time period, and has even served to change the course of history. Studying beauty practices yields insight into social status, wealth, political ideology, religious doctrine, and gender expectations, including gender nonconformity. A truly interdisciplinary text, Beauty around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia presents an insightful perspective on beauty that draws from philosophy, literature, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and feminist studies, giving readers a unique view of world beauty practices. This volume offers information about beauty practices from the past to the present in alphabetical entries that address terms and topics such as "beards," "dreadlocks," "Geisha," "moko tattoos," and "progressive muscularity." Readers will better comprehend how beauty shapes many social interactions in profound ways worldwide, and that the unspoken social agreements that shape ideals of attractiveness and desirability within any given culture can matter very much. The encyclopedia's entries challenge readers to consider the questions "What is beauty?" and "Why does it matter?" A comprehensive bibliography is a valuable resource for further research.

Contents:

List of Entries Preface Acknowledgements Introduction The Encyclopedia Appendix: Opposing Viewpoints Question 1: Psychology with a Scalpel: Does Cosmetic Surgery Boost Self-Esteem? Response 1: Psychology with a Scalpel: Yes, Cosmetic Surgery Boosts Self-Esteem Response 2: Cosmetic Surgery: Boon or Bane? Question 2: Is Beauty a Biological Imperative or a Cultural Preference? Response 1: What Could You Expect from a Nation that Has Won a Total of 22 International Beauty Pageants? Response 2: On the Irrelevance of Genetics Question 3: The Rise of the Transgendered Beauty Pageant: Is Biology a Fixed Category? Response 1: Transgender Beauty Pageants: An Imperfect Solution Response 2: Transgender Pageants: An Occasion for Celebration Question 4: If Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Why Is It So Important? Response 1: Beauty and the Law Response 2: Language Is Skin Deep-A Glance at Metaphorical Beauty Question 5: How is Men's Beauty Increasingly Commodified? Response 1: Men's Beauty Response 2: Subtle Play by Mr. Gray Selected Bibliography About the Authors and Contributors Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798400617164

9798216052050

9781610699457

1610699459

OCLC:

981509189