Elise Hu, a journalist and author of "Flawless," dives into the complex relationship between beauty and technology. She discusses how filters redefine societal expectations and shares personal stories from her journey as an Asian woman. The conversation highlights the importance of body neutrality and self-acceptance, especially for future generations. Elise also critiques capitalism's role in beauty ideals and emphasizes the need for candid dialogues to challenge these standards in our tech-driven world.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Beauty Standards
As a child, Elise Hu was told she looked like a Chinese soap opera star, Liu Shuehua.
This, along with comments about her double eyelids, instilled early the idea of a specific beauty standard.
insights INSIGHT
Appearance-Based Judgments
Moving to Korea highlighted the emphasis on appearance and the direct comments about what could be "fixed".
This experience underscored how quickly appearances are judged and the pressure to conform.
insights INSIGHT
Beauty as Labor
Beauty culture links appearance to worth, creating a pressure to constantly work on looks.
This "labor" consumes time and resources that could be used elsewhere.
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Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital
Elise Hu
Elise Hu's "Flawless" delves into the impact of technology and culture on beauty standards, particularly in South Korea. The book explores the pressures faced by women to conform to specific ideals of beauty, often driven by cosmetic surgery and digital filters. Hu examines the societal expectations and economic implications of these trends, highlighting the global reach of these beauty standards. The book also offers insights into the psychological effects of these pressures and suggests ways to challenge and redefine beauty. Ultimately, "Flawless" encourages a more inclusive and diverse understanding of beauty.
Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we’ve been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of “Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry.”
In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Elise shares the fascinating insights she’s learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our appearance. Elise and How to Be a Better Human host Chris Duffy talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of “beauty” is worth pursuing, and how we can both enjoy and push back against the very human desire to feel beautiful. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts
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