Eye of the Beholder

[Katy Lied]

I've always been interested in what constitutes beauty. (This is not a discussion of "inner beauty" or confidence or graciousness, this is strictly visual beauty.) Scholars who study these things tell us that the most universal indication of beauty is facial symmetry: The more symmetrical your face, the more people consider you beautiful. And this notion of beauty is quite robust--people can agree on what is beauty whether they're from Norway or Sub Saharan Africa or some pygmy tribe in Mindanao. And the celebrity with the most symmetrical face is Denzel Washington.

Some people like classical beauty (meaning those who possess features that you are culturally exposed to), or exotic beauty (features you're not used to).

I tend to emphasize quirky beauty in women, like Ellen Barkin, who has a crooked face and crooked smile.



Other women with quirky beauty include Geena Davis and Zooey Deschanel.




For men, though, I go straight to the classical look.


Who do you think is beautiful? Do you like off-beat, unusual beauty? Are you afraid of clown mouths? Is it difficult for you to pronounce someone beautiful until you know what they're like inside? Does body beauty trump face beauty for you? Do people mock those you think beautiful? Can you see beauty in many different races, or just the one you belong to? Do you equate health with beauty? Are you someone who cannot describe beauty, but you know it when you see it? Post your preferences, with photos.

[Surfah]

I've always been interested in what constitutes beauty. (This is not a discussion of "inner beauty" or confidence or graciousness, this is strictly visual beauty.) Scholars who study these things tell us that the most universal indication of beauty is facial symmetry: The more symmetrical your face, the more people consider you beautiful. And this notion of beauty is quite robust--people can agree on what is beauty whether they're from Norway or Sub Saharan Africa or some pygmy tribe in Mindanao. And the celebrity with the most symmetrical face is Denzel Washington.

Some people like classical beauty (meaning those who possess features that you are culturally exposed to), or exotic beauty (features you're not used to).

I tend to emphasize quirky beauty in women, like Ellen Barkin, who has a crooked face and crooked smile.



Other women with quirky beauty include Geena Davis and Zooey Deschanel.




For men, though, I go straight to the classical look.


Who do you think is beautiful? Do you like off-beat, unusual beauty? Are you afraid of clown mouths? Is it difficult for you to pronounce someone beautiful until you know what they're like inside? Does body beauty trump face beauty for you? Do people mock those you think beautiful? Can you see beauty in many different races, or just the one you belong to? Do you equate health with beauty? Are you someone who cannot describe beauty, but you know it when you see it? Post your preferences, with photos.

So do you like Laird or Dave better?

[oxcoug]

I've always been interested in what constitutes beauty. (This is not a discussion of "inner beauty" or confidence or graciousness, this is strictly visual beauty.) Scholars who study these things tell us that the most universal indication of beauty is facial symmetry: The more symmetrical your face, the more people consider you beautiful. And this notion of beauty is quite robust--people can agree on what is beauty whether they're from Norway or Sub Saharan Africa or some pygmy tribe in Mindanao. And the celebrity with the most symmetrical face is Denzel Washington.

Some people like classical beauty (meaning those who possess features that you are culturally exposed to), or exotic beauty (features you're not used to).

I tend to emphasize quirky beauty in women, like Ellen Barkin, who has a crooked face and crooked smile.

Who do you think is beautiful? Do you like off-beat, unusual beauty? Are you afraid of clown mouths? Is it difficult for you to pronounce someone beautiful until you know what they're like inside? Does body beauty trump face beauty for you? Do people mock those you think beautiful? Can you see beauty in many different races, or just the one you belong to? Do you equate health with beauty? Are you someone who cannot describe beauty, but you know it when you see it? Post your preferences, with photos.

I draw distinctions between what is beautiful and what I'm attracted to, and between physical beauty and total beauty.

I've learned that it's impossible for me to be attracted to a woman who isn't in shape physically - but it's obviously not impossible for a woman who isn't in shape physically to be beautiful.

Like you, I tend to be drawn to slightly more distinctive (if not quirky) types of facial beauty. I like a bit of boldness in the face - I'm not a fan of button noses, which might be why I've mingled with the womenfolk of Judah as much as I have with the womenfolk of Cache Valley.

As for whether or not beauty changes with familiarity - attraction certainly does and I guess that's where total beauty separates itself from aesthetic beauty. I've learned that my physical attraction to someone fades fast if I don't find (a) intellectual curiosity, (b) spiritual awareness and (c) the force of personality that comes from having both a good sense of humor and self-confidence.

Sorry I don't have pics to illustrate that -)).

[Cracks about why I'm not married are totally welcome]

[pellegrino]

Two things:

1- Are we talking about attractiveness or simply beauty? There are a lot of people in whom I can find beauty (a nice smile, glowing complexion, beautiful eyes) but that doesn't mean I find them attractive. I know it sounds strange, but there are many women I have met in life whom I find to be beautiful, but not attractive in the least bit.

2- I doubt you'll get a lot of men here talking about what they find beautiful in another man.

[TripletDaddy]

Of all the people you listed, I only agree with you about Lance Burkhart. The women in those pics are not very attractive, at least not to me. When I saw She and Him live, it actually made things worse for ZD...her hair was kind of stringy and she was wearing some weird clothes. Didn't do it for me.

geena Davis has clown mouth

Boobs are good.

[Pheidippides]

I'm all over the map on this one. Julia Roberts? No. Jenna Fischer? Yes. Skinny supermodel ice queen bitches like what's her name Lima and Gisele? No. Too plain in their beauty. Helen Mirren? Yes, age notwithstanding. And so forth.

I want beauty with character.

Edit: now I am going to have that song stuck in my head all day.

[Donuthole]

geena Davis has clown mouth

So does the model chick doing the T-Mobile commercials. Also, she can't dance, though it's fun to watch her try when that white dude raps about the NBA.

[YOUTUBE]h5ygXJqchBo[/YOUTUBE]

[wuapinmon]

[MarkGrace]

So does the model chick doing the T-Mobile commercials. Also, she can't dance, though it's fun to watch her try when that white dude raps about the NBA.

[YOUTUBE]h5ygXJqchBo[/YOUTUBE]

I think that girl is hot.

[MarkGrace]

I'm all over the map on this one. Julia Roberts? No. Jenna Fischer? Yes. Skinny supermodel ice queen bitches like what's her name Lima and Gisele? No. Too plain in their beauty. Helen Mirren? Yes, age notwithstanding. And so forth.

I want beauty with character.

Edit: now I am going to have that song stuck in my head all day.

Skinny supermodel ice queen bitches? Haha!

[Katy Lied]

Two things:

1- Are we talking about attractiveness or simply beauty? There are a lot of people in whom I can find beauty (a nice smile, glowing complexion, beautiful eyes) but that doesn't mean I find them attractive. I know it sounds strange, but there are many women I have met in life whom I find to be beautiful, but not attractive in the least bit.

Beauty, not attractiveness. Women do this all the time. We find beauty in men and in women. All the time. We're just not attracted to them. Whereas for men, I get the feeling that if they take the effort to notice that someone is beautiful, they are attracted as well.

Wonder who Wuap's woman is. She's quite beautiful.

[RC Vikings]

I think that girl is hot.

The T-Mobile commercials are one of the few I watch all the way through and it is just because of her.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Wonder who Wuap's woman is. She's quite beautiful.

Monica Bellucci. She has a timeless, classic beauty.

[TripletDaddy]

Wonder who Wuap's woman is. She's quite beautiful.

You should rent Irreversible. It is a nice family flick for a Sunday evening, much like the old Disney specials from the late 70s.

[TripletDaddy]

I think that girl is hot.

I think that guy's rap is hot.

Donute is right, that girl has a three-ring case of clown mouth. This doesnt necessarily preclude her from being good looking or having a nice figure. It just means that once you both have finished, it is likely that she will try to stab you to death. So sleep with one eye open...gripping your pillow tight.