Current mood:

sick

Musings

My brother and I have been having a debate on where there is such things as universal beauty, or universally good movies, artwork, music, and so on, or whether the specifics are arbitrary. 

I argue there is no universal perfection.  Sure, there is perfection in that youthfulness, health, lack of deformities is generally preferred, but as for specific facial features, skin tone, size, even shape, are a matter of preference, and while most people can agree on whether someone's pretty, they disagree on what makes one perfectly beautiful.  Our focus was on women, but I'd say the variance for male beauty probably ranges further.  From talking with many people and noticing their trends, I have noticed that what one person finds the sexiest thing on the planet can be downright revolting to another.  I won't go into details here, that's not my point.

The argument for preference can be extended to artistic ventures as well.  One can argue the complexity of the piece/work/etc., or depth of symbolism, or its influence, popularity, or probably a billion other such things.  But what it comes down to, in the end, is whether an individual likes it or not.  I think it's beyond arguing that people all like different things.  I think concepts of perfection are highly individual, and mold along with that individual.  I say it's highly integrated with the concept of taste.

My brother argues there is something outside and beyond personal preference, something categorizable.  He argues that a preference of something else is just 'feminine, emotional tendencies' and not abstract identification of beauty and 'good'.  Just an example of emotions coloring viewpoints, which would be realized when presented with an example of perfection.  That, or the person's just being contrary.

I'm very curious as to what other people think of this.  I'd like to hear some other arguments for either side, or why we're both wrong and how.  I'm wondering if there's a way to argue it without semantics getting in the way.

By the way, this leads into my argument for choice, if anyone's familiar with the argument against it.

And Jan, leave Henrita out of this.  I bet if I looked hard enough I could find people who thought he wasn't superhot.  Just because he has lesbian-turning power doesn't mean shit.  I bet an Anglophile wouldn't like him, so there.  And leave their jealousy out of it!