Make me beautiful. Last year in June, a freelance journalist asked artists from 19 countries around the world to photoshop her face with instructions to make me “beautiful.” The hope was that in altering her face, the artists and/or designers involved in the project would (subconsciously?) access their personal and cultural constructs of beauty. The results of the "Before-After" effort went viral, and the journalist was written up in Time and the Chicago Tribue and appeared on CNN and … [Read more...]
How to be attractive to others—a New Year’s Eve PSA.
If you've been following my blog, you know that I rail against lookism most of the time. In the spirit of fair play, tho, I'm featuring tips today garnered from recent research about how men and women can enhance their chances of being physically attractive to the opposite sex. This might come in handy New Years Eve, even for couples who've already attracted the partner of their dreams (never hurts to repackage the product.) This is a public service announcement, therefore. PSA's … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius’sentencing suggests he’s a psychopath.
Finally, the other shoe has dropped. And the judge has answered our question . . . sort of. The question asked several Pistorius blogs ago was, does Oscar have psychopathic tendencies like Lance Armstrong and OJ Simpson? Because I felt I knew less about Oscar than Lance and OJ and because a different culture and criminal justice system was at work, I decided to let the judge determine Oscar's mental state. Psychopath? By sentencing Oscar to five years—much less than the ten years she might … [Read more...]
Uglies, Pretties—the surgeries, the lookism.
Since so many of you resonated with my review of Wonder , I thought you'd like to know about another juvenile/young adult book series called Uglies and Pretties. In fact, the series has expanded to include books titled Specials (2006) and Extras (2007). The latter deals with the obsession of so many with fame—something I deal with from time to time in this blog. Young adult lookism. Set in a future dystopia where things aren't great, but economic challenges have receded, … [Read more...]
O.J. Pistorius? Another psychopath like O.J?
Judge Thokozile Masipa handed down her judgment in a South African high court on Friday. She found Oscar Pistorius guilty of "culpable homicide,'' similar to American "manslaughter." But whether it's the equivalent of American voluntary or involuntary manslaughter may be resolved when she sentences him. Judge Masipa felt prosecutors didn't make a strong enough case for premeditation which would've meant Pistorius was guilty of first degree murder. Bladerunner Pistorius During the sentencing … [Read more...]
Angelina’s only an 8. Take the beauty, symmetry test.
Do you distrust your cellphone 'cuz it takes endless selfies to get just the right shot? Do you wonder about your boyfriend or husband who say you're gorgeous? (What's he up to, anyway?) Does your mother say, "you're beautiful, but a little more effort or makeup might help?" No more questions about beauty, symmetry. Don't sweat the conflicting, subjective assessments any longer. This website will give you the straight scoop, and all it takes is downloading a picture of yourself. … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius——not mentally disabled, but a psychopath?
No mental disability when fired shots. It's been a month since various media shouted the news that Oscar Pistorius didn't have a mental disability when he killed his girlfriend. So technically, he has only one disability, his amputated legs. However, it's been over a year (Feb 2013) when I speculated that Pistorius might be a psychopath along the lines of fallen and disgraced sports heroes like Lance Armstrong and OJ. Simpson. I'd have to say the "jury is still out" regarding whether … [Read more...]