GRADED ESSAY

1.6180339….

An irrational number easily overlooked by many, ‘phi’ has revolutionized the beauty industry. Who
would have thought a simple ratio of the sides of a rectangle would permeate across our dentition,
facial structure, floral arrangements and Greek architecture? Upon discovery during the
Renaissance, artists and scientists were left baffled by this beautiful pattern of coincidence scattered
across the Mona Lisa and the Sistene Chapel. This “Golden Ratio”, standardises the beauty behind
our skeletal structure to a number. Standardisation is engrained in our DNA- literally, its helical
structure follows this ratio as well. Behind “Phi”, unfolds the argument of whether one must simply
appreciate the universal applicability of said mathematical fraction or look into what its
standardisation alludes to.

We subconsciously gravitate towards what humans perceive as conventionally pleasing, such as

symmetry and heterozygosity. Associating fertility and health with beauty, beauty seems to hold the
doors behind our innate desire to perpetuate the human species. Thus from an evolutionary
standpoint, standardisation of beauty is justified.

However, as against the rest of the Animal Kingdom, humans barely physically resemble their own
family, let alone race. It is therefore impossible to quantify our phenotypical framework. To hold
beauty on a pedestal would contradict the true beauty of our species- variability. Globalisation of
western ideals of beauty however, annihilate the genotypic heterogeneity of our population.
Originating from the Elizabethan association of pale skin with high social status, many seek
hydroquinone creams while the modern Western world pay their visit to tanning booths. The latest
runway trend driven by slender models stands incongruous with the historic Arabic and Indian ideals
of beauty in voluptuous bodies. There is no constant in the fashion industry. There is no winning.

A slightly flattened nasal bridge or a less prominent cheek-bone must not be disregarded for its
chirality but rather admired for its divergence. The chiselled jaw-lines, ripped muscles and longer
legs displayed on a TV screen, subtly invite mass-produced dysmorphia and body dissatisfaction.
Fallible by nature, humans have impressionable minds. The Placebo effect and blind faith in despotic
charismatic authority prove us so. When our biological flaws seem reluctant to change, we seek
procedural adjustments. West African women undergo Leblugh, addition of fat to desired parts of
the body, while Asians undergo blepharoplasty, a thirty minute procedure to obtain a double eyelid.
Those from England and America wear corsets, risking breathing patterns and effective lung capacity
for a smaller waist.

Westernisation has gone to show the extent to which insecurities drive people to. Our willingness to
override individualism with conformity is historically evident. European aristocrats applied lead to
achieve a paler face, later replaced by rice powder in the 1700s. Societal approval blinded many
from the effects of poisoning, hair loss and skin cancer. During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese women
practiced foot-binding as smaller feet symbolised a “chastity belt”. Binding their toes resulted in
severe paralysis, ingrown toe-nails and loss of blood circulation. The media thus preys on our
kryptonite through its endorsements, valorising fairer skin and societal approval. As Jean Killbourne
once said, “humans are twice seduced: once by ads and once by products.” The increase of “Do it
Yourself” procedures mirror the success of such commercials. It seems easier to find purpose in
purchased products than our own body. Calibrating what is deemed attractive while advocating for
cultural diversity thus makes our unsolicited hypocrisy apparent.
GRADE: A+

COMMENTS: The tone of the essay is good and well-constructed. The culture-specific examples
make the essay more relatable and hard-core science is made easily understandable by it. The
reference to hypocrisy and man’s need to look attractive especially taken in by advertisements was a
good reference. The quality of language used is of good standard and the essay conveys what it
needs to clearly and precisely.