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    23 views5 pages

    BEAUTY Sontag

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    gjpline

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    (642 « Leslie Mermon Silko . tage. Thus the continuity and accuracy of the oral narratives are rein= forced by the landscape—and the Pueblo interpretation of that landscape is maintained. Possibilities for Writing 1. Consider S's fil sry aout the slaughter other own anes tor In what ways dos this sry explain, elaborate On an dummerae he cen poins she aks teughoa the cng? 2 Conpae Sik’ aberatons wth hae of Seo Moma “The Way Rainy Monin (page 08-809) Bae on dae tyo ey, what sc some snl and ences beeen the ow wre ate culture? 9. Wit an ty abont landape that hs sighcant mening for you How il and diferent stor out atempr view Iandnnpe Ske dnecbes bre? A Wonan’s Beauty: Put-Doun or Paes Source? © 648 ‘Seaan Sontag (1989-200) as one of Amerc+ mou prominent nllectaal, ‘haning Ber oled withthe wold of eae al her i Afr eudying a the ‘UniswraityofCaifomi at Berkeley, he earned a Ik in pitwoply from the Unies of Chicago atthe age of eightven,ofe which he sated religion at the Unian Theological Senanary ot NewYork, then prop and Kterae fat Heard, rcuving mazar’ degrees in bh fede. Sontag alo ttt at ‘ford and he Sorbonne Prom the other side ofthe de she tug and detuned exteelyat univers around the tot, but for many years the sade her condom hare at Columbia and Rags univers, Soa book rng sideline collection of storie, eke (1973) ply, Alice in Bed (1999) ands eolumesofenays, incl aie loterpratton (2196), Maes as Metaphor (2978), an On Phvegeaphy (1977) Ame her [four novel are The Vlenn Laver (1902), ehh a ber-elr, rel In ‘Ames (2000), sock won the National Book Cats Cie Award. In tuition, Sontag wrote dn directo four oture-length lina and was furan righ atv for more than to desde. Se wes ae Macrae Fale Susan Sontag A Woman’s Beauty: Put-Down or Power Source? |n*A Woman Beauty: Puc-Down oe Power Soutee* Sontag displays her istorii awl ashe interest in current ated toward gender roles In aruing sys the dangers and Initing ideals to which women Ihave sabjected themes (and bea subjected by men), Sata brings to bear ‘sk anni of Greek and Christian perspectives, implicating bod inter tonnequeno for contemporary women’ dane aad empl efforts ‘uke theneles beau ‘nike many contemporary estay, Sontag’ eaey lack a wrong sutcbiogrphieal impulse One might expect sucha pervonal vain nan esny fon women beauty-—itcerzainly woul nt be ont of plare—but Sontag ‘idol avoids de pennant, But Sontag ee concerned ear wi ter own experience af beauty ar with past propectves on but in and af ‘erseve She sar mare nested how te past can Belp ws understand ‘he present and how pat perspetives affect moder were’ facination with ad dese for personal beauty, |For the Greeks, beauty was a virtue: a kind of excellence. Persons then were assumed 10 be what we now have to call—lamely, enviously— ‘whole persons. If it did occur to the Greeks to distinguish between a 644 & Susan Sontag person's “inside” and “outside,” they still expected that inner beauty ‘would be matched by beauty of the other kind, ‘The well-born young Athenians who gathered around Socrates found it quite paradoxical that their hero was so intelligent, so brave, so honorable, so seductive— and s0 ugly. One of Socrates’ main pedagogical acts was to be ugly— and teach those innocent, no doubt splendid-looking disciples of his how full of paradoxes life really was ‘They may have resisted Socrates’ lesson. We do not. Several thou sand years later, we are more wary of the enchantments of beauty. We ‘not only split off—with the greatest faciliy—the “inside” (character, intellect) from the “outside” (looks): but we are actually suprised when someone who is beautiful is also intelligent, talented, good, 1 was principally dhe influence of Christianity that deprived beauty of the central place it had in classical ideals of human excellence, By limiting excellence (virtus in Latin) to moral virtue only, Christianity set, Deauty adrift—as an alionaced, axbitrary, superficial enchantment, And beauty has continued to lose prestige. For close to two centuries it has become « convention to attribute beauty to only one of the two sexes: the sex which, however Fair, is always Second. Associating beauty with ‘women has put heauty even further on the defensive, morally A beautiful woman, we say in English, But a handsome man, “Handsome” is the masculine equivalent of —and refusal of—a compli ‘meat which hes accumulated certain demeaning overtones, by being reserved for women only, That one can calla man “beautiful” in French and in Italian suggests that Catholic countiies—unlike those countries shaped by the Protestant version of Christanity-—still retain some vestiges of the pagan admiration for beauty. But the diflerce, if one ‘exists, is of degree only. In every modern country that is Christian or ppost-Christian, women are the beautiful sex—to the detriment of the ration of beauty as-well as of wornen ‘To be called beautiful is thought to name something essential to ‘women’s character and concerns, (In contrast to men—whose essence is tobe strong, or effective, or competent.) It does not take someone in the throes of advanced feminist awareness to perceive that the way women are taught to be involved with beauty encourages narcissism, reinforos depenclence and immaturity. Everybody (women and men) knows that For its “everybody,” a whole society, that has identified being feminine with caring about how one looks. (In contrast to being masculine—which A Bioman's Beauty: Put Down or Power Source? + 645 isk with caring about what nes and does andl conn, ‘atl aba ow ees) Gn sho ene one aut enjoy a bes rer repsation reeset of coun he deo be beatiful hat is wrong but the bligatonto bear tr. What i aceped by most waren a a Bat eyeliner sexs a wy fing ween fel inferno “Sat hey acly area normaly row tobe, For eel of ea wMiinlaned afr of ol eppesin. Women a6 aught tse throes a pot ano vaunts ec pt separately Brean ft, tip, wan ec, eps nse, complexion, bi, and 0 on—ouc tan smted tan ono, tlle dexpaing sry ven tToome pst musts some wil alyay be ond wating, Nohng ls than pect wl iy gd lke i wl, comaing taken ina a lance. I doce nt zed tobe cone by ing measurencts of ies ron ofthe body abo encourages tw des his appt ie enue by fone Ae foe pres, chat cnsieedal— stat unmay Kaden the ial gootooking man & smal Inet or blemish considered pose dsb According sv ee (e woman) hos ade Robert Reford fn i Koving tat cater of skin-edored mol one check hat saves Tee ming erly ape fac” hk of de depen of Seventeen tt tm ge of ena are mes” ad Coven To be sr henuty ont power And deservedly, What lament ithe yer ht mst won a urge Wek "Ths power leuys once in lato os a the power Tobe the power atuace isa power at oitentll.Fo his Sa ne aca be chosen ely est ot women FEnouneed without socal cemure “Ten fr omar can nover be aa pleasure isa a dy ish wr ds alo adv ha dane cred apt ang penton in ple, lw elie, basins, o Vind tb aayt ner resus os that he tl wok a ng athe Bue fra she keping op a one ofthe Far Sonn ie binge underpin her very capac 0 be bjtv, priesnalsutorite, thot Dare thy dove fa darned if they dn. 646 + Susan Sontag One could hardy ak forme important vides ofthe dang of constring person as alt between whet inside nod iat “outside” han hance acon aa ale the opee sin of women, How oy ists ydening worth cee of their suacen and then to spare thew or fd then Adora) for beng "opti" rade ep, aid he worked for co lng Buf gt oto he rap mee hat women et sone cecal distance fem at excl and plage which bay cvough distance so how toch beauty elf hs ee bridged order prop up the mythlgy ofthe “nine.” he hl be ayo vig bent rom woman forth Possibilities for Wri is 1, Consider the extent to which you agree (or disagree) with Sontag regarding what she says about the plight of contempo- rary women with respect to beauty, To what extent are men responsible for women’s obsession with beauty? To what extent are women themselves responsible? Explai 2. Sontag makes a brief historical excursion to consider the place of Deauty in classical Greek culture and in early Christian times, How effective is this excursion into history? How important is it for Sontag argument? And how persaive is Sontag use of 8. Do your ovn litte study of women’s attitudes to beauty by sur- eying women you know in varying age groups. Consider both what they say and what they do with regard to the use of beauty products. Write up your findings and your analysis ofthe signii- ‘ance of beauty for women today. Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions » 647 beth Cady Stanton (1815-1902, om inportant lear of erly women's movement, was bara in Joan, Naw Tr and resid Fignous education fora woman of er deat the Try Female Seminary Aer ltening a congress of abolition during which omen ware barr from ticipating, se was ingpired to promete greater quality for omen She feel organize the fs women's rights conrention in Seneca Falls, New Yo in 1948, and she continued to be a trang leader i the maverent to gain ‘women the rigkt to wot to iberlize vnc fay andthe women chine pont wilh men in terme of education, emplyment, and loge, Te ‘nother of een cdr, she was nevertheless orn, lecture, ‘and writer forthe eae, ax president of major women’s nage cusciations om 1863 un hor death Elizabeth Cady Stanton Declaration of Sentiment and Resolutions Elizabeth Cady Suton “Deeleratian of Sentinets and Resluions* was ‘ested at th Sone Falls Convent, at which women gathered in Senora Fall, New York o avert their rights and demand equa respect as fall United ‘State tas Inthe "Declartion,” Stanton makes lee and pope spleen othe United Senes Dclrton of Independence, At rai point, ‘Stanton wes the eanet wording ofthe Areisan Declaration. Bat eas ‘rumen to the equation, ‘Stan alo Toll thelial strc ofthe Declaration of Independance, engin chat en hte mirtented women, denied women che “inalienable ight, and generally established "an sbslat yranny” over ‘hen, a tyranny analogous otha whch England had exabihed ver the ‘Ameria canis ta addon, Sari also reat alist of exams se ces ts videnceof mers ranical eatment of women. Fro this evidenoe she Akay the conlsion Cat woenta be given “nana adi wo all Ue righ ani prvleges which belong to thom a tiene of the United Sates” ‘When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one por tion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entide them, a decen, respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the feauses that impel them to such a course 648 + Blsabeth Cady Stonton G We hold these truths to be self-evident: tha all men and wonen are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life Hberty, and the pursuit of |huppines; that to sour these rights governments axe instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent ofthe governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive ofthese ends, itis the right of those who suffer rom i to refuse allegiance toi, and to insist upon the institution of new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and ongania= ing its powers in such form, as to them shal seem most likely to effect, their safety and happiness. Prudence indeed, will dicite that govern- ‘ments long established should not be changed for light and transient eanses; and accordingly all experienes hath shown chat mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are suferable, dhan to right them- selves by abolishing che forms to which they were accustomed. But when 1 long train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object evinoss a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it i their duty ¢o throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient safferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are ented, ‘The history of mankind i a history of repented injures and asurpa tions on the part of nan toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let fats be submitted to a candid world, He has nevee permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to che elective franchise He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of whieh sho had no voice. He has withheld from her rights which are given to die most igno- rant and degraded men—both natives and forcigners Hlaving deprived her of dhis frst right of a citizen, the elective fran- chise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, Ihe las oppressed her on all sides He has rade her, if married, inthe eye ofthe law, civilly dond He has taken from her all right in property, even co the wages she He has made her, morally, an iresponsible being, as she ears commit smnny cries wich impunity, provided they be done in the presence of Declaration of Sentiments and Revslations » 649 der husband. In che covenant of marriage, she is compelled to promise obedience to her husband, he becoming, to all intents and purposes, her master—the law giving him power to deprive her of her Uber, and to administer chastisement. He has so framed the laws of divarce, as to what shall be the proper ‘causes, and in case of separation, co whom the guardianship ofthe ehil= dren shall be given, as to be wholly regardless of the happiness of women—ihe law; in all eases; going upon a false supposition of the supremacy of man, and giving all power into his hands. After depriving her ofall rights as a married wosnan, if single, and ‘the owner of property, he has taxed her to support a government which recognizes her only when her property can be mace profitable it He has monopolized neaely all the profitable employments, and fromm those she is permitted to follow, she resives brit scanty remuner- ation, He closes against her all the avenues to wealth and distinction ‘which he considers most honorable to himself, Asa teacher of thealogy, ‘medicine, or law, she is not known ‘He has denied hee the feclities for obtaining a thorough education, all cologes being closed against her He allows her in Church, as well as State, but a subordinate pos tion, claiming Apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry, ‘and, with some exceptions, fram any public participation in the affairs of the Church He has created a false public sentiment by giving to the world a if ferent code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquen: ety, are not only colerated, but cies which exclude women from s0 deemed of litle account in man, He has usurped the prerogative of Jehovah himsel, claiming it as bis right co assign for her a sphere of action, when that belongs to her conscience and to her God He as endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her conf dence in her awn powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent andl abject ite. "Now, in view ofthis entite disfranchisement af one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation—in view of the just laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred 60 + at Cay Senn "eh, we ins that hey Moree wih ng temas cent eo et EE nn et tk bl oe a SIT sakenctin inna ale ene ty within our pve elle as a ploy agents, circulate tr Neca he in *) and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the al : bell. "We ep ts Canton wil fa fons embracing every part ofthe country - Possibilities for Writing building one wpon azn Do 2, {ito es ater conan Why oreo Sec on ing of Stn’ Deron, how wer deleed—that hy wt aguante and ecm t havo proved atthe tine? For cual ee

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