Humanities Final Project
Curator Statement:
Ugliness within Beauty
Beauty can sometimes be too simplified into something that is visually pleasing, or forces somebody to a state of amazement with its aesthetic qualities. People may go into an art museum, look at the paintings and based on the visuals, accept some as beautiful, and others as ugly. The identification of beauty strictly by the exterior or surface of the artwork, image, or object is not an identification I agree with. When one is viewing something they perceive as beautiful, I believe there should be another consideration of the content of that thing. Too many times, people view a certain item and simply cast aside the content or consequences of that item. This practice of separating an inconvenient ugliness about a particular beautiful item is a dangerous one that fosters a culture in which people are only interested by the surface of things, and not the content. When I reference the ugliness of content, I’m talking about things that traditionally society looks down upon. Things such as violence, or war. This issue applies to a sport I’ve been playing a majority of my life which is football. Football has become a cornerstone of American culture due to people’s complete and utter obsession with the game, and how people find beauty in this sport. A major component of people’s passion for the game is big hits which do contain objective aesthetic beauty featuring two physical specimens performing at peak athletic ability in competition. However, while people find this beautiful, they do not consider the ugly content that these players are risking their lives with these bone crushing hits. The same thing applies with the beautification of War. People awe in amazement at the aesthetic beauty of B-52 fighter jets, but like to conveniently forget what the function of those jets are. Through these examples, and more I will explore the ways in which society views items of aesthetic beauty and ugly content, and how this aesthetic beauty allows people to either disregard or embrace the ugly content.
The first item is an image featuring one of the biggest hitters in the history of football. The image shows linebacker Ray Lewis delivering a severe blow to tight end Aaron Hernandez. It is hard for somebody to deny the beauty of this photograph, with the bulging arms of each player, and their bursting legs. Both players’ physical acumen is clearly demonstrated in the image with each of them lowering their bodies attempting to gain leverage on the other. On the surface, the image captures two top athletes in great competition with one another. However, there is the ugly consequence of the photo, that this is indeed a head on collision in which both player’s heads are ramming into one another at full speed. A collision like this almost definitely led to a concussion of some degree from perhaps both of the players. The aesthetic of the image provides people with an easy pathway to avoid thinking of the ugly content. It serves as a nice distraction to the deeper ugliness of the photo. Or, there is another possibility that this visual aesthetic is allowing viewers the freedom to embrace and enjoy this ugly content. There has always been a hidden thirst for violence amongst people in society. Whether it was the days of Gladiators fighting, or currently with football, clearly man has some suppressed desire to see violence. This image and the beautiful aesthetic of football which contains the colorful uniforms, and peak athleticism allows people to embrace the inner ugly of themselves and the sport in an acceptable manner.
The next example is an image B-52 fighter jet, soaring through the sky. In this image, the viewer can clearly identify the aesthetic beauty this jet provides. According to generally perceived traditional physical qualities of beauty, this jet fulfills the requirements for being beautiful. The symmetry in the design leaves not much else to be desired, while the stealth design of the aircraft certainly amazes the eye. Much like the image of the football collision, the viewer can identify strength in this image. The root of the wing is incredibly strong and stable, and as it expands the wing becomes more flexible, allowing the jet to have greater speed. This is akin to the aesthetic of peak athleticism shown by physically adept football players. And much like that image, this aesthetic beauty does not come without consequences. The B-52 fighter jet was initially built to be a high altitude nuclear bomber. (Historical Snapshot, Boeing) In modern times, the B-52 is utilized for bombings, and transport of ballistic missiles. (Historical Snapshot, Boeing) The fighter jet is obviously a vehicle of destruction. It has been used in Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and Afghanistan, which are subjects that are not generally looked at beautiful by the public. The dichotomy of the B-52 is evident in its possession of unique martial beauty contrasted with a function and consequence that are ugly by traditional standards. How people perceive this dichotomy is up to them, but a viewer shouldn’t simply label the jet as beautiful without regarding the greater function of the jet. This example could be another situation in which people are allowing the aesthetic beauty to act as an excuse to let out the inner ugly inside that desires violence and war. An interesting article of Live Science stated that “Like our close living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, humans are hardwired come into conflict with one another, often violently.” (Wynne Parry, Live Science) I agree with this statement, and think that items such as these that contain ugly consequences, yet please the eye allow people to release some of this suppressed hunger for violence by enjoying the aesthetic, while perhaps subconsciously or consciously enjoying the content as well.
The third example I discuss is unlike the previous examples in that it is not an image. This example is a song entitled “Born in the U.S.A” by Bruce Springsteen. The song starts off in an undeniably beautiful fashion. A loud but melodic hard driving drum beat lays the foundation for the rhythm while a synthesizer clarion adds another rhythmic layer on top. The beats aren’t very subtle; they are simplistic beats that are incredibly pleasing to the ear. I believe the way the two instruments work in harmony to cause people complete audial joy is a traditionally beautiful aesthetic . However, this is again on the surface of things. The lyrics of the song itself are rather ugly. Of course this is Springsteen’s goal in the song to criticize America, with lyrics such as “it’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap, you got to get out while your young.” (Born in the U.S.A, Springsteen) I wonder why America adores a song that essentially exposed the ugliness in our culture. I think on a level; our culture craves a bit of the ugly from time to time. As long as the ugly content is produced in aesthetically pleasing way, people have a propensity to consume ugliness. For example, how a broad aesthetic can be created for wars that involve extreme patriotism and courage, yet the content of wars is so much more complex and ugly than that. That possibly is a reason why networks like CNN and Fox are so successful. All they do is show the deep ugliness of the world, but they present it with attractive people and fancy beautiful backgrounds, so people are more susceptible to consume the ugly. I believe the beautiful soundscape Springsteen creates with the lyrics displaying ugly truths conveys how our culture tends to beautify the ugly.
This example is similar to the previous in that it is in the realm of popular show business, and delivers what most people would consider ugly content through a beautiful aesthetic. This example comes from the movie Kill Bill vol 1. This movie is directed by renowned director Quentin Tarantino who is known for scenes exactly like this in which an incredible amount of blood is shed. But, he is also known for how his directorial styles produce great beauty in these incredibly violent scenes. An interesting shift in color happens during the scene in which it goes from conveying full colors as Uma Thurman’s character slices into the flesh of the Crazy 88 to black and white right as she gouges a man’s eye out. This seems to be Tarantino understanding that a change of aesthetic can make an audience much more susceptible to ugly content. Almost as if he knew the audience couldn’t handle an eye gouging with full color so the change to a more classical downplayed aesthetic would allow him to push the ugliness through. While the scene was in full color Tarantino went with a beautiful aesthetic by having Uma Thurman in a visually striking yellow jump suit with black stripe, almost making her look like a fierce racing car, and then having the Crazy 88 all wear the same thing of handsome black suits, and a mask. Also Tarantino focuses on the beauty of the sharp, spotless blade, for a moment, which is another tactic that creates visual beauty in order to allow the ugly content to be delivered. An article from the Harvard Law record said it best stating, “That said, if the sequel is anything like its predecessor, then Kill Bill will establish itself as one of the most brilliant aesthetic achievements in recent film, elegantly blurring the distinction between beauty and violence.” (Xaviar Morales, Harvard Law Record) Tarantino has made a living of producing the beautiful aesthetic in which ugly content is delivered, and his extreme success demonstrates our cultures hunger for these items.
In our culture, we like to think we are refined, and don’t indulge in ugly things such as violence, and war, however these examples demonstrate that as long as something lives up to traditional standards of beauty, people will embrace the ugliness within them.
Citations-
Parry, Wynne. “Why Peace Is So Tricky for Humans.” LiveScience. Purch, 17 May 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
“Boeing.” Boeing: Historical Snapshot: B-52 Stratofortress. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
BruceSpringsteenVEVO. “Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.” YouTube. YouTube, 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
Miramax. “Kill Bill: Volume 1 | ‘Crazy 88’s’ (HD) – Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu | MIRAMAX.” YouTube. YouTube, 28 Nov. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
Google Images. Google, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2017. <https://images.google.com/>.
Record, Posted By The. “Kill Bill: Beauty and violence.” The Harvard Law Record. N.p., 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2017.
EXHIBIT 1:
Title of the Image- AFC Championship- Baltimore Ravens v New England Patriots
Provenance – This photo was taken in New England on Sunday January 22nd
Cultural Relevance- The AFC championship game is arguably the second most intriguing sports event in football, so millions around the world tune in.
In this image, the audience should explore the way the aesthetic beauty of the image distracts from the ugly consequence of what is happening. The way the muscles and athleticism of the players takes away attention from the fact that this game can be dangerous and ugly. The viewer should explore the idea that maybe this aesthetic beauty and ugly consequence are tied together. Maybe there is a reason we find this violence visually pleasing because it elicits a more animalistic side in humans. A side that hungers for violence. The viewer should attempt to explore within themselves why or why not they find this image beautiful.
EXHIBIT 2:
Title of Image- B-52
Provenance- The photo was taken in 2015 over an undisclosed area
Historical Relevance- The B-52 has been used as a weapon in many wars by America including the Vietnam War.
In this image, the viewer should notice all the physical components of beauty the B-52 possesses. The sleek nature of the plane, the beautiful silver color, the symmetry and so on. After observing the physical beauty, the viewer should wonder if they need to take into account the ugly nature of what this item does before identifying it as beautiful. Should there be a moral consideration of considering such a deadly weapon beautiful? Do we appreciate this as beautiful because it is deadly? These are some of the questions I want the viewer to explore.
EXHIBIT 3:
Born in the U.S.A by Bruce Springsteen
Provenance- June, 1984 released by Columbia Records
Cultural Relevance- The song was a big hit when it came out and still today is used by politicians in rally’s and what not
On first listen to this song, the listener should allow the music to simply flow and listen without observation. On a second listen the listener should be a bit more diligent and notice the contrasting happy up-tempo beat with the lyrics that reveal ugly things about America. Springsteen is criticizing America, and at the same time producing what seems to have become a patriotic song. Consider this as an example of how our culture can beautify the ugly. The rhythm serves to act that as long as a pleasing aesthetic is delivered, then our culture will consume all sorts of ugliness.
EXHIBIT 4:
Title- Crazy 88’s
Provenance- October 10th 2003 film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Cultural Relevance- Tarantino movies are always highly anticipated due to his multiple iconic films
In this scene, the audience should pay attention to how the beauty of the scene is undeniable yet portrays so much ugly violence. Once again, is there an animal nature inside people that is hungry for this violence. The color shift should also be observed as a tactic to present the bloody violence in an even more aesthetically pleasing way in order to make the audience more susceptible to the ugly violence. Tarantino knows the viewer craves for the ugliness, as long as it is coated in a classic beauty. The viewer should explore how they feel about each violent act, do they want it to stop or continue on.
