Paper Outline

I finalized the main idea of my paper idea and it is very different from my previous blog posts (just a warning).

Ok so here's my thesis idea:
In my paper I hope to make my readers aware of the dangers beauty can bring upon humanity. As a result of the focus on the physical beauty instead of the spiritual one, society has forced us into a corner where beauty can only be defined and appreciated in one way. In different eras throughout history and even in modern times, this one-sided view of beauty has crippled man-kind and is behind many of the issues faced then and now.

Here is how I hope to divide up my paper:

A) I want to begin with the dual definition of beauty that I mentioned in earlier blogs, for I believe the focus on one as opposed to the others is the cause of the issues that I will bring up. I also want to establish precedence, i.e. explain that beauty has been a dominant aspect of cultures since biblical times.

(The above is really an introduction to my top. Topics B-G are the proofs to the thesis written above.)

B) The bible quotes the laws of an Eishet Yefat Toar, a beautiful captured woman who has claimed favor in the eyes of one of the soldiers in the conquering army. These laws focus around making this woman as un-beautiful as possible. But why is beauty so dangerous?

C) Proof to the dangers of beauty are evident in the mythological story of Helen of Troy. Helen is described as the most beautiful woman who ever lived. Entranced by her beauty, Paris prince of Troy took her from the Spartan king back to his homeland. The result of his indulgent actions are known as the Trojan War.

D) Physiognomy is the pseudo-scientific belief that people's external qualities show their innate qualities and tendencies (their personalities are determined by their beauty). An idea particularly popular during the 17th century, its ideals are recorded in Shakespeare's sonnets. Sonnet 127 is a prime example of Shakespeare's disillusionment towards those with black or dark features. Originally entranced by a Dark Beauty, Shakespeare ignored the warning signs (i.e. her dark hair and eyes). When he is ultimately betrayed by her, he mentally slaps himself for not realizing sooner the evil that lived within her and expresses his physiognomic beliefs in this sonnet.

E) But what is so dangerous about physiognomy? The answer is found in the propaganda spread by the Nazis during World War II. The Nazis believed, as determined by physiognomy, that the Aryan race was supreme to all others. Their blond hair and blue eyes placed them at a status above all others. Those who were not of Aryan appearance were harmful to this world and deserved to be exterminated. It is with this logic that the Nazis successfully massacred eleven million people, six million of which were European Jews.

F) And now for the modern aspect. Today, the Dove Real Beauty Campaign is a driving force for women everywhere to love their curves and be individuals when it comes to their physical appearances. In Israel, models are viewed as role models as well, and there is a law that prevents any woman from modeling unless she has a certain percent of body fat.

G) Why, you may ask? Why are today's female population counting calories like they're life or death? Because modern society has objectified women. Victoria's Secret Love Your Body Campaign, and their models, are prime examples of the source of self-consciousness today. I still need to do research on this particular aspect but Anorexia and Bulimia are very common issues in teenage girls today. Hopefully I'll find some more modern proofs to back this up as well.