"Not true. Take a set of photographs of people ranging from supermodels to severe facial deformities, and show them to people from around the world, regardless of culture, education, location, or the amount of isolation, and ask them to arrange the photgraphs in order from most to least beautiful.
It's the same order every time. Our sense of beauty is directly involved with our ability to measure symmetry. Symmetry implies health, which is attractive."
Symmetry is a factor, but it's not the only one. There are huge cultural differences in how we perceive beauty. One of the most obvious is the question of weight. In America and other Western nations, there is a major emphasis on thinness as a factor in feminine beauty, and a somewhat lighter emphasis for men. But in many other cultures, fat men and women are considered attractive.
This changes quite a bit over time, as well. In the first half of this century, and in many eras before, heavy women were considered highly attractive. If you don't believe me, watch a movie with Mae West, or check out some of the paintings of Botticelli.
Slashdot Mirror
It's the same order every time. Our sense of beauty is directly involved with our ability to measure symmetry. Symmetry implies health, which is attractive."
Symmetry is a factor, but it's not the only one. There are huge cultural differences in how we perceive beauty. One of the most obvious is the question of weight. In America and other Western nations, there is a major emphasis on thinness as a factor in feminine beauty, and a somewhat lighter emphasis for men. But in many other cultures, fat men and women are considered attractive.
This changes quite a bit over time, as well. In the first half of this century, and in many eras before, heavy women were considered highly attractive. If you don't believe me, watch a movie with Mae West, or check out some of the paintings of Botticelli.