Truth is beauty and beauty is...
February 20, 2006 10:10 AM Subscribe
The way the women were photographed produces pretty unattractive shadows; they could have done a better job with that. Also, the virtual women was hawt.
posted by chunking express at 10:20 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by chunking express at 10:20 AM on February 20, 2006
Correction: What is White (Euro, Aryan, Nordic) Beauty.
posted by beagle at 10:23 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by beagle at 10:23 AM on February 20, 2006
Other races have standards of beauty, too, beagle. just saying. and there's a standard of beauty applied to men, too. But it really dosen't apply as strictly as you'd imagine.
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on February 20, 2006
Apparently. I find "babyfacedness" less hawt than 78 percent of the rest of the population.
Freakin' pederasts.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:29 AM on February 20, 2006
Freakin' pederasts.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:29 AM on February 20, 2006
Fascinating...quite often I try to figure out precisely WHAT it is that makes a particular woman attractive. It's clearly not enough to say it's the hair color, or lips, or any such single feature. These links help me understand a little bit better.
posted by davidmsc at 10:50 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by davidmsc at 10:50 AM on February 20, 2006
I find this really, really disturbing for some reason. Possibly because damn near every face you see in magazines, on TV, in film, etc. has been cartoonized like this, and so the high-bar of beauty has been raised to a fictionally high standard.
Now I know why everyone looks ugly.
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 10:52 AM on February 20, 2006
Now I know why everyone looks ugly.
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 10:52 AM on February 20, 2006
Actually the babyfacedness experiment demonstrates how much beauty seems to be a per-person phenomenom. A face that's too thin becomes much more attractive when the cheeks are fleshed out, while a face of average cheekiness becomes more attractive when the cheeks are thinned and the jaw and cheekbones made more attractive. All those features they're measuring aren't as isolated as they think which is why the average "most beautiful" case looks quite plain. A better question might be what's beautiful given a set of of initial conditions rather then just averaging a bunch of metrics.
posted by nixerman at 10:59 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by nixerman at 10:59 AM on February 20, 2006
I think there’s a difference between pretty or surface attractiveness and beauty. Beauty is more in movement and soul and grace than in static form. My wife is utterly beautiful. Blindingly regal in fact. I doubt I would be as attracted to any of those women when they have morning crud in the corners of their eyes, are half asleep and have facial creases from the pillow. On the other hand my wife is still beautiful in this state. And there are women who are pretty even though not symmetrical, Audrey Hepburn comes to mind.
And then of course those ‘defects’ if they may be called such become utterly charming when backed by grace or charm.
Facial moles become ‘beauty marks’. This can certainly happen in the case of a scientifically pretty face - Cindy Crawford perhaps - but much more likely given personality.
Even in the case of generally agreed upon attractive characteristics - I look at the faces and they don’t look more or less attractive, but more serious, more jovial, more honest or earnest than the other.
What is attractive to the eye isn’t always what is valued in the heart. If I’m more attracted to the jovial honest type, I’m less likely to be attracted to a serious looking face no matter what the characteristics.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:04 AM on February 20, 2006
And then of course those ‘defects’ if they may be called such become utterly charming when backed by grace or charm.
Facial moles become ‘beauty marks’. This can certainly happen in the case of a scientifically pretty face - Cindy Crawford perhaps - but much more likely given personality.
Even in the case of generally agreed upon attractive characteristics - I look at the faces and they don’t look more or less attractive, but more serious, more jovial, more honest or earnest than the other.
What is attractive to the eye isn’t always what is valued in the heart. If I’m more attracted to the jovial honest type, I’m less likely to be attracted to a serious looking face no matter what the characteristics.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:04 AM on February 20, 2006
The best explanation of beauty I ever heard was in my intro to psychology class. The professor put a picture of Denzel Washington up on the screen, and told us it was attractive because he has a symmetrical face. Then she clicked her remote and said "but not Lyle!" and up came the ugliest goddamn picture of Lyle Lovett the world has ever seen.
posted by danb at 11:11 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by danb at 11:11 AM on February 20, 2006
The accepted metric for facial beauty is Kilo-Ships, as in how many were launched on behalf of the face in question.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:16 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:16 AM on February 20, 2006
stickycarpet, I heard it formulated this way: a "millihelen" is the amount of beauty needed to launch a single ship.
posted by jepler at 11:32 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by jepler at 11:32 AM on February 20, 2006
Holding steady at 0 millihelens here.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:33 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:33 AM on February 20, 2006
I don't really like the word "beauty" applied to people, i think "attractiveness" and/or "sexy" are more accurate. I think if laid out an X/Y graph with attractive being one axis and sexy being the other, people who scored high in both would generally be considered "beautiful". If nothing else I think the word beautiful has a completely different meaning when applied to humans as opposed to any other object of aesthetic consideration.
posted by doctor_negative at 11:35 AM on February 20, 2006
posted by doctor_negative at 11:35 AM on February 20, 2006
The professor put a picture of Denzel Washington up on the screen, and told us it was attractive because he has a symmetrical face. Then she clicked her remote and said "but not Lyle!" and up came the ugliest goddamn picture of Lyle Lovett the world has ever seen.
But to me Lyle is far more attractive than Denzel. I only need to hear 'Record Lady' to go all ooey for Lyle.
posted by essexjan at 11:44 AM on February 20, 2006
But to me Lyle is far more attractive than Denzel. I only need to hear 'Record Lady' to go all ooey for Lyle.
posted by essexjan at 11:44 AM on February 20, 2006
The whole "baby face" woman-child ideal of beauty is about the creepiest thing around. WTF is up with being attracted to someone who reminds you of a freakin' *baby*? Ick.
About the only good thing about it is it makes things easier for guys who like women rather than girls.
posted by Ayn Marx at 12:30 PM on February 20, 2006
About the only good thing about it is it makes things easier for guys who like women rather than girls.
posted by Ayn Marx at 12:30 PM on February 20, 2006
Truth is beauty and beauty is... Social Perception:
Lynndie England versus Jessica Lynch.
Truth (or the lack of it) plays no small part in beauty. Don't forget the definition of glamour.
posted by cenoxo at 12:41 PM on February 20, 2006
Lynndie England versus Jessica Lynch.
Truth (or the lack of it) plays no small part in beauty. Don't forget the definition of glamour.
posted by cenoxo at 12:41 PM on February 20, 2006
I'm not sure the "virtual" faces win because their facial features are more desirable, or simply because the process they use to make them covers up all the imperfections in the original photos making an impossibly perfect final image.
Look here, for instance. These are fairly unflattering pictures of the real women - they don't seem to be wearing makeup, the lighting is harsh, their hair is frizzy, the hard-edged shadow certainly doesn't help either. The "virtual" Miss Germany has all of none of those "flaws." It's kinda unfair.
(And I'd take Miss Bremen any day over the supposed winner.)
posted by mragreeable at 12:52 PM on February 20, 2006
Look here, for instance. These are fairly unflattering pictures of the real women - they don't seem to be wearing makeup, the lighting is harsh, their hair is frizzy, the hard-edged shadow certainly doesn't help either. The "virtual" Miss Germany has all of none of those "flaws." It's kinda unfair.
(And I'd take Miss Bremen any day over the supposed winner.)
posted by mragreeable at 12:52 PM on February 20, 2006
Not a call out, but we have talked about this site before, in case you're interested in the previous discussion.
posted by teleskiving at 12:53 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by teleskiving at 12:53 PM on February 20, 2006
The accepted metric for facial beauty is Kilo-Ships, as in how many were launched on behalf of the face in question.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:16 AM PST on February 20 [!]
stickycarpet, I heard it formulated this way: a "millihelen" is the amount of beauty needed to launch a single ship.
posted by jepler at 11:32 AM PST on February 20 [!]
Holding steady at 0 millihelens here.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:33 AM PST on February 20 [!]
Those are the best comments I've read all week. Thank you!
posted by onegreeneye at 1:01 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:16 AM PST on February 20 [!]
stickycarpet, I heard it formulated this way: a "millihelen" is the amount of beauty needed to launch a single ship.
posted by jepler at 11:32 AM PST on February 20 [!]
Holding steady at 0 millihelens here.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:33 AM PST on February 20 [!]
Those are the best comments I've read all week. Thank you!
posted by onegreeneye at 1:01 PM on February 20, 2006
Why are all the "attractive" male faces shown so feminine? Crikey. Where are the MEN?
posted by onegreeneye at 1:03 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by onegreeneye at 1:03 PM on February 20, 2006
The very attractive guy face looks girly. I'd go for the "unattractive" guy over the girly, I could be his mother, guy any day. Are they polling pre-teen girls, or something? While I'm at it, what's with Brad Pitt and Jude Law being attractive? They's sooo effete. And Tom Cruise? He's like a cross between every drunken frat boy I ever wanted to taser, and a garden gnome. Now Clive Owen...mmmm.
posted by onegreeneye at 1:13 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by onegreeneye at 1:13 PM on February 20, 2006
I look at a woman's face, and if I can visualize her saying, "come here and cuddle me pi" I get all mushy. If she doesn't look like she'd be likely to say something of that nature, then the face is merely an interesting, shiny novelty.
posted by pieisexactlythree at 1:17 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by pieisexactlythree at 1:17 PM on February 20, 2006
You're only pretty when you've bought me dinner.
posted by slatternus at 1:25 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by slatternus at 1:25 PM on February 20, 2006
Or a nice shiny piece of jewellry.
posted by slatternus at 1:25 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by slatternus at 1:25 PM on February 20, 2006
pretty girls make graves
posted by The Jesse Helms at 2:31 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by The Jesse Helms at 2:31 PM on February 20, 2006
You know a thing or two about german beauty queens, eh protocols.. if you know what I mean, and I think you do..
zing!
posted by drpynchon at 2:51 PM on February 20, 2006
zing!
posted by drpynchon at 2:51 PM on February 20, 2006
"Each pixel of that face has been calculated by scientists using a specialized software program"
Computer Scientists are teh sexy, you see? Why do the girls never believe me?
I also now have a thing for Miss Bremen. And now one less thing I never thought I'd say.
posted by NinjaPirate at 2:56 PM on February 20, 2006
Computer Scientists are teh sexy, you see? Why do the girls never believe me?
I also now have a thing for Miss Bremen. And now one less thing I never thought I'd say.
posted by NinjaPirate at 2:56 PM on February 20, 2006
I did the experiment 3 times in order to fill my screen with the imaginary woman.
I'm sure she did the same thing for me on that side of the screen.
posted by NinjaPirate at 3:04 PM on February 20, 2006
I'm sure she did the same thing for me on that side of the screen.
posted by NinjaPirate at 3:04 PM on February 20, 2006
Morphed faces are cool! When can I start feeding it two pics and see what comes out the other side?
posted by fenriq at 3:04 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by fenriq at 3:04 PM on February 20, 2006
Faces do nothing for me. I prefer cartoonishly enormous breasts.
posted by horsewithnoname at 4:16 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by horsewithnoname at 4:16 PM on February 20, 2006
Beauty is a bikini wax 'n waitin' for yer nails to dry
Beauty is a colored pencil, scribbled all around yer eye
Beauty is a pair of shoes that makes you wanna die
Beauty is a lie
- Frank Zappa, "Beauty Knows No Pain"
posted by krinklyfig at 4:44 PM on February 20, 2006
Beauty is a colored pencil, scribbled all around yer eye
Beauty is a pair of shoes that makes you wanna die
Beauty is a lie
- Frank Zappa, "Beauty Knows No Pain"
posted by krinklyfig at 4:44 PM on February 20, 2006
If you take a look at the picture to the left, you will quite certainly think that this is a very beautiful face.
weird. looking at the idealized picture before reading the paragraph which told me, "you will quite certainly think that this is a very beautiful face," i was thinking, "gee, what an amazingly plain looking face."
posted by 3.2.3 at 5:00 PM on February 20, 2006
weird. looking at the idealized picture before reading the paragraph which told me, "you will quite certainly think that this is a very beautiful face," i was thinking, "gee, what an amazingly plain looking face."
posted by 3.2.3 at 5:00 PM on February 20, 2006
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posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 10:17 AM on February 20, 2006