Part 13/14:
The push to normalize “ugly” and “disturbing” images in Hollywood and culture at large involves a paradox: reliance on established beauty standards is challenged while superficial rebellion flourishes. Trends like bleaching eyebrows or embracing “dark circles” are seen as both aesthetic choices and ideological statements—embracing imperfection as virtue.
This cultural shift raises questions: does the rejection of conventional beauty serve cultural progress, or is it an abdication of standards that historically motivated higher achievement? Critics argue that Hollywood’s focus on “relatability” and “authenticity” often masks superficial pursuits of social capital, rather than genuine self-acceptance.