Is this accidental... ? Alien-themed beauty roll-outs when the beauty industry makes us all feel so... alienated? In rejecting our humanity and becoming ever more 'perfect' we only get more lonely.
I've also observed, coincidentally, that most fillers/ lifts, etc make people look like... fucking aliens.
Definitely not accidental! I think there's a two-way flow of popular culture influencing beauty standards and beauty standards influencing popular culture, and in both instances we're encouraged to see ourselves as optimizable technology rather than human beings (i.e., hustle culture pushing the boundaries of the mind & body, rugged individualism wearing away at personal relationships and de-centering collective care). I always say, beauty is the sneakiest way that cultural norms are reinforced! In order to be good capitalist cogs, people need to be made into machines — it's no coincidence that beauty ideals suggest we should look like machines too!!
I'm so interested in this, especially in the advent of AI. I wonder if there will be a wholesale rejection of this when we realize we've created machines that are superior to us in so many ways. Do you see a return to a prioritization of the human in the face of such sophisticated machines? Or are we just going to just keep on keeping on, trying to compete with our pygmalion robots?
Dare I say, the best poem yet?
Thank you!! I do think I'm getting better haha
Is this accidental... ? Alien-themed beauty roll-outs when the beauty industry makes us all feel so... alienated? In rejecting our humanity and becoming ever more 'perfect' we only get more lonely.
I've also observed, coincidentally, that most fillers/ lifts, etc make people look like... fucking aliens.
Beautifully done 🧡
Definitely not accidental! I think there's a two-way flow of popular culture influencing beauty standards and beauty standards influencing popular culture, and in both instances we're encouraged to see ourselves as optimizable technology rather than human beings (i.e., hustle culture pushing the boundaries of the mind & body, rugged individualism wearing away at personal relationships and de-centering collective care). I always say, beauty is the sneakiest way that cultural norms are reinforced! In order to be good capitalist cogs, people need to be made into machines — it's no coincidence that beauty ideals suggest we should look like machines too!!
I'm so interested in this, especially in the advent of AI. I wonder if there will be a wholesale rejection of this when we realize we've created machines that are superior to us in so many ways. Do you see a return to a prioritization of the human in the face of such sophisticated machines? Or are we just going to just keep on keeping on, trying to compete with our pygmalion robots?
I think we're going to continue trying for the foreseeable future, but of course I hope we reach a breaking point!
Wow. This poem took my breath away. Thanks for sharing and siiiiiiiigh.
Thank you so much <3
Love this. There must be an xfiles episode related to this haha!
Could you please do a story on how all the toxic chemicals in east palestine are used for beauty products.....
Scully you're not gonna believe this
Lol
Reminds me of a poem I wrote after flicking through a magazine one day, taking note of the headlines on the front page:
Younger and
Longer and
Beautiful and
Perfect and
Absolute and
Perfect and
Perfect and…
It’s just one page
In a magazine.
Just one page.
So good!!
Thank you!
This was incredible
Thank you <3
Spectacular space-craftsmanship
Ha! Thank you :)
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
<3
I love the poems- the phrases on their own, without the usual beauty lingo fodder propping them up really make you realize how weird it all is.
Genius! Brilliant! Thank you.
Scorched 🔥
Chillingly good and terrifying.
Thank you Allie! Means so much coming from you.
Outstanding
Thanks <3
I adore this and want everyone to read it
This is brilliant - both scary and beautiful too.