#74, Beauty
South Korean high school girls cheer for their senior classmates taking the College Scholastic Ability Test on November 8, 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.
Of all the places I have traveled in my life, none puts more emphasis on appearance than Korea. Advertisements to "Lose 5kg in 2 weeks!" and "Transform your visage with our expert plastic surgeons!" are commonplace. We are endlessly reminded of the importance of beauty and this is reflected in the way we think, act, and value.
This American Life, a popular U.S. podcast, investigated the influence of installing full-length mirrors in an all girls high school in Gwangju. Listen to the "Prologue" section of Episode 483: Self-Improvement Kick. The story discusses an American teacher's perspective of Korean culture and beauty.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/483/self-improvement-kick
To complete this week's Journal response,
- What is the ideal for beauty in Korea? Edit: Ideal beauty for men or women
- How does the emphasis on beauty in Korea influence society? Alternatively, how does the emphasis on beauty influence your school?
- Comment on one of your peer's responses.
-Brenden Lee Teacher
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