For my project, I will analyze the aesthetics of the Middle East. I will focus primarily on Lebanon. Lebanon is considered the center of plastic surgery. Being Lebanese, I would always go to Lebanon and witness the small noses, big lips, tattooed eyebrows. Yet, this is only but a small example. The society in Lebanon lives in such high standards to the point where they have to look pristine from top to bottom. At the age of twelve, little girls are dressed in heels and full makeup. This essentially stuns their growth and makes them mature even when they are not ready. It is almost as if they are stripped from their carefree childhood due to the high standards of society.
With this in mind, I will base my work off of Cynthia Ghazali's "Copy. Cut. Paste.," a documentary on the plastic surgery in Lebanon that discusses its affects of the self esteem of others, society as a whole, and even how it affects the economy of Lebanon itself. Ghazali adds how the plastic surgeries are fed by the self esteem of the nation which is why it is a lucrative and prosperous business.
In addition to this, I will relate this situation to the Male Gaze, and how society is still affected with this issue. Women feel that they are not deemed suitable or good enough in society without the need to surgically alter their physical appearances not only for themselves, but primarily for everyone else especially men. Another subject I am tying to this is the subject of patriarchy and how women must appear in a perfect state at all times in the eyes of men. Otherwise, they potentially will not be considered worthy of friendship or even marriage in the Lebanese society. Ghazali discusses how even people with a high education must "compete" with each other to find their groom.
Overall, I will relate all these ideas in a cohesive online magazine, which will be published online, with a blog post in summary of my doings and presentation.
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