Maxis agrees with Laurenke
Oddysey:
Dunno about eyes, but I know that in many parts of the world young children have lighter skin and hair than they do as adults. It's a signal for youthfulness. Interestingly, there's a theory that the oft-remarked upon preference towards blondes in Europe and North America is actual a preference towards lighter, and thus more youthful, skin. And in women, skin color varies with one's fertility cycle, with (I think) the lightest skin color corresponding to peak fertility, the darkest skin color corresponding to one's period.
Also, "Western" beauty preferences seem to be shifting towards somewhat darker skin and hair, and more African/Asian mixed features, reflecting new demographic norms. Check out beauty magazines and models. I don't think the research is definitive yet, but it's an interesting possibility.
Ah, the science of beauty, and sexual selection. A most fascinating topic.
J. M. Pescado:
Quote from: Oddysey on 2005 August 08, 15:46:16
Dunno about eyes, but I know that in many parts of the world young children have lighter skin and hair than they do as adults. It's a signal for youthfulness. Interestingly, there's a theory that the oft-remarked upon preference towards blondes in Europe and North America is actual a preference towards lighter, and thus more youthful, skin. And in women, skin color varies with one's fertility cycle, with (I think) the lightest skin color corresponding to peak fertility, the darkest skin color corresponding to one's period.
Also, "Western" beauty preferences seem to be shifting towards somewhat darker skin and hair, and more African/Asian mixed features, reflecting new demographic norms. Check out beauty magazines and models. I don't think the research is definitive yet, but it's an interesting possibility.
Ah, the science of beauty, and sexual selection. A most fascinating topic.
Yes. Then there's the project where they amalgamated poll results to produce what was supposedly the "ideal" face.
Predictably, the resulting face was really quite bland and not at all appealing, like a pizza ordered by too many people.
As for the preferences shift, I theorize that it's actually a built-in thing for the "exotic". Whatever is "exotic" is in. This may partly be a defensive mechanism to prevent inbreeding.
Oddysey:
I haven't heard about the poll results--at least specifically, as I can think of something that might fit it, but I haven't been able to find it, since all the links are dead--but I do know that when you blend a group of faces into one faces, the result is usually surprisingly attractive, since the various flaws even each other out. However, conscious selection often produces sub-desirable results, since there tends to be a gap between what people think they want and what they actually want, especially in the case of something like beauty.
Truly *beautiful* faces, however, almost always vary from the standard norm in some way or another, which is why extremely good looking people usually have rather exotic or striking features.
EDIT: If anyone's really interested in this stuff, I recommend "Why Is Sex Fun?" by Jared Diamond, and any books he references. It's all about sexual selection, specifically, what sexually selective forces have drive the human sex life to be so weird in comparison to other animals, including our closest genetic relatives. Gender roles, beauty, it's all in there. Very good book.
ZephyrZodiac:
And pure, classical beauty (as defined by 19th C artists etc.) so often lacks character!
J. M. Pescado:
Quote from: Oddysey on 2005 August 08, 16:06:02
However, conscious selection often produces sub-desirable results, since there tends to be a gap between what people think they want and what they actually want, especially in the case of something like beauty.
I've noticed people seem very conflicted in this regard. I, myself, lack this dichotomy, being that I am incapable of perceiving beauty without thought. Things don't jump out at me as "pretty" unless I think about it. Unless that something is pyrotechnical in nature. That's one of the few things that jumps out at me as "OOOH!".
Quote
Truly *beautiful* faces, however, almost always vary from the standard norm in some way or another, which is why extremely good looking people usually have rather exotic or striking features.
I can definitely agree with that one. People who look like can and will punch you in the face are definitely very striking, and even more so if they actually do it. I personally favor things like angry eyebrows and sharp teeth. Because those are always very striking.
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