While reading chapter one of Postman's “Amusing Ourselves To Death”, he argues that cosmetics have become the main point of modern-day society rather than our opinions based on transformation to televised culture. In later chapters, Postman continues to support this phenomenon when explaining how news reporters have become more focused on visual stimulation using heavy makeup and comedy rather than informing the viewers of the stories. Another example would be how he explains how religious practices have been changed to attract viewers. Such as Jews covering their heads during prayer and Catholics not lighting a votive candle to improve the look of the altar. Postman’s point of visual appearance being the biggest influence on society has got me thinking. Why in today’s age do we judge a person’s personality solely based on their appearance? Whether we had any interaction with them prior. Why in our society from school to the use of online dating is our whole perspective of a person negative or positive based on what we hear about them and what they look like?
Personally, the fact that looks matter more than personality is extremely frustrating, especially in the world of dating. Tinder, for example, is one of those dating apps that claims to help you find “love”, when really it just helps set up dates with people you find attractive. However, to easily fix shallow first impressions, there could be a dating app that helps you get to know people with absolutely no pictures involved, but too many people are scared to find out their match is unattractive, even if they do have a great personality because essentially, “looks do matter”. I believe that it’s not just in this day and age that looks matter, it has always mattered since the beginning of mankind.The only difference is that back then, people got to know the people around them on a deeper, personal level without being split between a screen or being influenced by photoshop or angles. WIth that being said, looks have always mattered, but nowadays, people always rely on pictures for the first impression, rather than actually being introduced and having a conversation.
ReplyDeleteThere are many people who choose appearance over personality because they prioritize whatever they see first instead of actually getting to know the person. We're so influenced by the celebrities we see on social media and immediately set our standards so high to find someone as perfect like them. That's the sad part about these "stereotypes" because we want to have that "perfect" relationship or body since we see that everyday on our phones or in the news. We also don't put in any effort when it comes to getting to know someone right off the bat if they don't have that "perfect" look. Hopefully our generation can learn to understand how to not judge a book by its cover because many people start to judge their insecurities and think that they're not good enough when we just need to learn how to get to know people better.
ReplyDeleteThe sad truth is that some people do, in fact, care more about how people look over how they act. This personally makes me extremely sad and upset because in my opinion, every individual body is beautiful in its own way. People shouldn't have to care to fit in to society's beauty standards just to find someone who "loves" them. Personality and character is so much more important than how the person looks, because in the long run, looks fade, but the person himself/herself, will most likely stay the person they are throughout their time. People should learn to be friends or fall in love with the actual person, not just with what they can see. Dating apps and websites don't help this matter either. On the apps and websites, you "like" and "match" with people based off of looks and not based off of who they are as a person and that is the part that ruins society. All people care about nowadays are the looks when, in reality, looks aren't important at all.
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