The Cult of Beauty in Ancient Greece and Modern Media
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April 2016 Free Copy PresidentEMILY PORTER Barry Addresses University Changes as ‘Tough Love’ BATTLER COLUMNS REPORTER Interim President of Alderson Broad- “It is hard to predict the future. Over dus University, Tim Barry, finds communi- the next five years though, I do expect tu- cation to be important, and students of ABU ition to rise again. Students should expect want that communication now more than that, too. We have to get back some of the ever. money that was frozen in previous years,” Recent changes in the university he said. have left students weary about the future of Barry continued to tell students that ABU. With over $36 million in debt, admin- many small, liberal arts colleges, and even istrative changes and now, a 5% increase larger universities, are dealing with the in tuition, the small, liberal arts institution is same issues. He believes, however, that facing many hardships. students at ABU have not suffered due to But in an open forum held Wednes- the university’s financial burdens. day April 6th, Barry assured students that “We are going to be dealing with se- many small colleges are going through the rious issues soon that everyone is going to same kind of problems. encounter. Faculty and staff haven’t had “The only way we will make it is if we raises for a number of years, and they are sacrifice. Hand in hand. In concert with one still teaching. We are going to make tough another. I’m still here, and I’m delighted to decisions on resources and budgets for be here. We can work through this. I would- that. Alumnus are being asked to give. Stu- n’t have come here if I didn’t believe that,” dents have to do their part, too. It’s tough he said. love.” Currently, the university is in negoti- The tuition increase beginning in the fall of ations to pay back a $36 million debt. ABU 2016 will primarily cover operating costs of failed to make its last payment, so now ad- the university and according to Barry, will ministration must come up with a 5-year ease the tension on the financial side of the budget plan. In this plan, assumptions college. about the future of the university are going “Don’t forget the friends, staff, and to have to be made. According to Barry, part faculty we have here. we’re in a wonderful of these assumptions are yet another raise place. It’s not perfect. It’s not imperfect. But President Barry speaks to students. in tuition. we’re in a good place,” Barry said. TheThis independent Cult research of projectBeauty is included into satisfy Ancient requirements forGreece the honors program. and Modern Media AURORA WINWOOD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Western civilization as we dent through the rigid beauty different ways (“Cultural Ideals of what is beautiful. This idea of ar- know it can thank ancient Greek standards conveyed to the public Facial Beauty”). These thinkers chetypal beauty influences the culture for its many contributions. through mass media. saw a strong connection be- way the masses feel, think, and Innovations from the ancient The Greek word for beau- tween beauty and mathematics, behave. However, this concept Greeks have shaped contempo- tiful is kalos. This term refers to noting that the eye was more at- of popular beauty is not new to rary government, medicine, fine a very general value that can tracted to beauty as a form of our society. arts, sports, and philosophies also be used to describe what is order. Pythagoreans held that The ancient Greeks ini- and have profoundly impacted morally good. According to au- while ugliness is the expression tially upheld a standard of divine modern-day living. Perhaps one thor Ruth Lorand, “The ancient of disorder and a lack of rational beauty, which is mirrored in the of the Greeks’ most complex, yet Greeks ascribed beauty to things proportions, beauty is consid- cult of beauty in today’s media. overlooked contribution was the that are morally good, appropri- ered an objective expression of In order to best compare the conception, understanding, and ate, and pleasing, be they natu- cosmic truth (Lorand). Greek mentality towards beauty evaluation of beauty. Beauty, ral objects or artifacts, tangible In contrast, because to the contemporary mentality to- which has traditionally been and concrete or abstract, per- beauty is a significant compo- wards beauty, the standards of counted among the ultimate val- sonal deeds, or social institu- nent of human experience, it is beauty must first be identified. ues of goodness, truth, and jus- tions” (“Beauty and Ugliness”). often linked with pleasure and so These standards refer to the tice, is one of the most enduring Because of the broad scope of it is also seen in a subjective specific perceptions of beauty and controversial themes in the term, kalos, ancient discus- light. The association between that are upheld by modern- Western philosophy (Sartwell). sion of beauty is often rooted in beauty and feeling suggests that American culture. The nature of beauty, and a more extensive discussion of beauty is not only an objective The idea that beauty is a whether it is an objective or sub- ultimate values (Sheppard). quality, but an emotion evoked universal and objective property jective concept, is heavily de- The earliest theorization by the object (Lorand). Author is a long-standing convention of bated as a fundamental issue in of beauty comes from the works Pamela Sue Anderson, defines Western thinking. Some of the philosophical aesthetics. of ancient Greek philosophers. beauty as “…a property of an ob- major ideals of facial beauty in While it is often said that The ancient Greeks believed ject that produces an aesthetic Western culture include symme- beauty is in the eye of the be- that beauty consisted of three pleasure; this pleasure is a sub- try, proportion, harmony, clear holder, the concept of beauty major components including jective response to a beautiful skin, and youth. Because most can be defined through both symmetry, proportion, and har- object” (“Beauty”). It is the con- people are not born with these modern day beauty standards mony (“Cultural Ideals of Facial nection between beauty and features, many are willing to alter and the public perception of Beauty”). However, even these pleasure that drives the human their own appearances in order beauty gained through the Greek philosophers held differ- desire to be beautiful and obtain to conform to these standards. media. But, how does the an- ent perspectives of what beauty beauty. This attraction to beauty For example, women around the cient Greek attitude towards encompassed. While some is universal and impacts per- world apply makeup on a daily beauty compare to contempo- philosophers took an objective sonal choices and cultural devel- basis with the intent of enhanc- rary idolization of beauty in pop- view of beauty, others took a opments (Lorand). ing some facial features while ular culture? Through extensive more subjective view. In contemporary Western masking other imperfections. In research, it is evident that the The Pythagorean School society, attraction to beauty cer- addition to cosmetics, people ancient Greek stance on beauty of thought took an objective tainly impacts personal choices use clothing, accessories, and is very similar to the contempo- stance, focusing on order and and cultural developments. This hairstyles to conform to their so- rary idolization of beauty as pro- symmetry as an indication of is evident through the cult of ciety’s’ specific ideals of beauty. pelled by the media. The ancient beauty. Philosophers including beauty propelled by mass Greek fascination with beauty is Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle be- media. All forms of media rang- 4 mirrored in the cult of beauty in lieved that proportion and har- ing from traditional to nontradi- Continued on page ... modern day society and is evi- mony were essential to beauty in tional generate an ideal image of INSIDE NEWS: 6 Baccalaureat Celebration Revamped...pg 2 Places to Visit in West Virginia...............pg 3 Yonge Named Player of the Week.........pg Thetas Tackle Spring Cleaning.............pg 2 Safety on Campus..................................pg 3 Women’s Lacrosse Makes Program His- 6 The Life of a Track and Field Runner....pg 5 ABU Presents Spring Musical: tory..........................................................pg Mame......................................................pg 3 April 2016 THE BATTLER COLUMNS PAGE 2 Campus News THE EMILYBaccalaureate PORTER Celebration Revamped for 2016 Grads BATTLER BATTLER COLUMNS REPORTER Since its creation, Alder- now take place on April 28th, they are now peers and col- COLUMNS son Broaddus has prided itself the last day of chapel service. leagues rather than students with tradition—and Provost Propst and Gittings and professors. At one point in Joan Propst is striving to keep hope that in doing the service the celebration, candlelight will The student-run that tradition alive in coming during the day and while fill Wilcox Chapel to symbolize graduation celebrations despite classes are still in session, the bright minds of graduates newspaper of radical changes the university more graduates will attend. and the potential they have as has endured. They also hope that undergrad- young adults. Alderson Broaddus “Last year after only uates will attend to support The Praise Team will University having 25 students attend, we their mentors on their next step sing in worship at the celebra- had to ask ourselves if the bac- after ABU. tion and Reverend Dr. Michael calaureate ceremony was re- “I reached out to nearby Sisson, Senior Pastor of Crab STAFF ally worth the trouble. I found institutions such as WV Wes- Orchard Missionary Baptist that embarrassing, and it made leyan, Davis and Elkins, and Church, will speak.