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Beauty. What is beauty?

A question which has given all the philosophers, observers and wise men sleepless nights trying to provide a definition which suits all sorts. But beauty exists both independently and exclusively contradicting every definition that’s been used to define it. Stating the word of Confucius:- “Everything has beauty but not everyone can see it.” Seems legit but even if it’s true it doesn’t stop everyone from developing their own ideas of beauty. Ideas that are convincing, ideas that are explainable and ideas that are appealing. And between all the assumptions, presumptions and preconceived notions beauty has definitely lost it’s meaning. From being a delight to the soul, beauty, rather has become a weapon to condescend those who lie below the line of perfect curves, appealing colour of skin, kind of hair or particular facial sets, a judgement based on practices begin by foul people with intentions of feeling superior just because they were blessed with the features mentioned above. And this definition of beauty has become a tactic to garner fame, attention, rewards, superiority and create illusion for it has been known that beauty is the most feasible delusion.

And this definition of beauty perceived by the opportunists has created a division amongst the society.

The first being the one with perfect sets of body features claiming their superiority basing it on their luck of proper DNA arrangements and the others, that lay behind in this race living a life based on their dignity and their virtues still keeping them at the end of the line and leaving them wishing if they could be beautiful. My goal here is not to loathe people for being attractive but to analyse the concepts that have driven us all so far to a demeaning end. Quoting a famous author John Green:- “That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.” Words put together so well that it feels beautiful to read it at once. But the question is how many people get influenced by these words and make amends in their lives. And here again I raised question to my own answers about beauty.

‘Feels beautiful’. Is beauty an object to look and measure, is beauty a feeling to sense or is beauty an idea to endeavour?

With every possible answer to existing questions we get more questions instead.

For a mother her child or for instance any child is beautiful as ever. For an artist whose art speaks volume of his excellence beauty lies everywhere or anywhere. For a snake charmer beauty lies in the skin and eyes of snakes. For a psychopath beauty lies in the curves of his prey and how it trembles when he informs him of his fate. For an engineer beauty lies in the designs he create. For a doctor beauty lies in handing over the newborn baby to her mother. For businessman beauty lies in the number game. For a model beauty lies on curves of her body and the look on her face.

So many ideas, feelings and explanations. And they somehow never seem to intersect.

According to famous poet John Keats:- ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever: it’s loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.’ I wish I could oppose this statement because as am reading this I feel so many memories rushing back in support of this. Remembering the times when I hold a baby in my arms and it refuses to leave me holding me tight altogether. Seeing an older couple who by society’s standards are neither pretty nor rich holding hands while going on a walk.

For my closing argument or rather justification;

let’s, like everybody else in the past think of the origin of beauty. Perhaps the first men saw a rainbow after the heavy tornado and thought of giving a name to this feeling or view. And at the same time on a different place another man stood at the edge of the a cliff and saw a sunrise.

They both saw something which gave them joy and a feeling indescribable. So they gave it a name: beauty. And with years passing different people with different experiences drew their own ideas or assumptions or experiences of beauty into quotes, poems, songs and stories including those who tried to objectify beauty. Unfortunately those who objectified beauty has succeeded in the present times.

So when we look at all these definitions of beauty from the mediaeval ages to this present moment, there exists no possible explanation or definition to beauty. There is only exploitation of it for personal endeavours.

Perhaps this is where we are wrong at.

Trying to define beauty. Ever since humans existed they have this urge to know and control everything. Trying to define everything always undermines the thing. Because no matter how much you try you’ll always end up missing something. And when you miss something it haunts you.

 

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