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Summary
Summary
Taking the concept of beauty seriously, this encyclopedia examines how humanity has sought and continues to seek what is "beautiful" in a variety of cultural contexts, giving readers an understanding of how to look at beauty both intellectually and critically.
Is beauty ever more than "skin deep"? Arguably yes, considering that the concept of beauty--and the pursuit of it--has shaped cultures worldwide, across every time period, and has even served to change the course of history. Studying beauty practices yields insight into social status, wealth, political ideology, religious doctrine, and gender expectations, including gender nonconformity. A truly interdisciplinary text, Beauty around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia presents an insightful perspective on beauty that draws from philosophy, literature, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and feminist studies, giving readers a unique view of world beauty practices.
This volume offers information about beauty practices from the past to the present in alphabetical entries that address terms and topics such as "beards," "dreadlocks," "Geisha," "moko tattoos," and "progressive muscularity." Readers will better comprehend how beauty shapes many social interactions in profound ways worldwide, and that the unspoken social agreements that shape ideals of attractiveness and desirability within any given culture can matter very much. The encyclopedia's entries challenge readers to consider the questions "What is beauty?" and "Why does it matter?" A comprehensive bibliography is a valuable resource for further research.
Reviews (2)
Choice Review
Anthropologist Kenny and Spanish professor Nichols (both, Drury Univ.) bring a welcome cross-cultural perspective to the topic of beauty--often treated overwhelmingly from a Western perspective in such abstract philosophical discussions on aesthetics as The A to Z of Aesthetics, by Dabney Townsend (2010), or, where human beauty is an implicit theme, in specialist works such as The Cultural Encyclopedia of the Breast, by Merril Smith (CH, Mar'15, 52-3419). Of the nearly 150 entries in this encyclopedia, about one-third are explicitly cross-cultural, including entries on specific peoples (e.g., the Apatani of Arunachal Pradesh, India; the Maasai in East Africa; the Maya in Mexico and Central America); practices (labia elongation, associated with several African nations; footbinding, practiced in China; or teeth blackening, in Japan and Vietnam); and country overviews (Brazil, Egypt, Venezuela, etc.). The frequent attention to surgical interventions is especially notable among entries with a Western focus. General entries with a more discernible international scope include those on beauty pageants, on the hourglass body shape, and on the social construction of beauty. The "Opposing Viewpoints" appendix asks five questions (e.g., "Does cosmetic surgery boost self-esteem?"), followed by two responses representing the opposing viewpoints. The authors provide resources for further readings with each entry, as well as a short, selective bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. --Carmen Hendershott, The New School
Library Journal Review
Kenny (anthropology), Nichols (Spanish, both Drury Univ., MO; Beauty, Virtue, Power, and Success in Venezuela 1850-2015), and ten contributors (educators, professors, and writers) bring a wealth of knowledge to the fascinating concept of beauty. Featuring further reading listings, the one- to two-page entries are well-researched, comprehensible introductions to topics such as leg-lengthening surgery, big beautiful women, grillz, labiaplasty, corsets, facial hair, and eating disorders. Articles on a specific country or tribe focus on an iconic example of that culture's beauty ideal. One can always quibble about the selection of main entries in a single-subject encyclopedia, but the authors explore a range of issues, and the detailed index provides additional entry points. The one serious failing is the lack of high-quality color photographs. The appendix is a curious addition: a brief "Opposing Viewpoints" treatment of five value-laden questions regarding beauty in sociological contexts. Surely this material could have been included in the relevant entries, allowing for greater explication and more than simply two opinions to be presented. -VERDICT Despite some shortcomings, this is an excellent background source for undergraduates and general readers seeking a sociological examination of themes related to the definition and pursuit of beauty.-Rosanne Cordell, formerly of Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.