On the Subject of Beauty.
Jun. 12th, 2007 04:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sechan19Watching an "extreme makeover" type show this evening. Most of the participants have needed surgery for massive physical defects, however the last girl was actually quite lovely - needing only a diet and a haircut.
The haircut was crucial to the process, as everyone exclaimed. You see this girl had the sad habit of wearing her hair long and black, and people thought she looked scary - like a ghost, you might say - and they called her witch and spectre. Even her friends complained about her Sadako-like appearance, sometimes asking for an impression (and subsequently squealing in terror afterwards). Potential boyfriend's laughed in her face - calling her a jinx.
The makeover consisted of diet, exercise, clothing and makeup pointers, and - of course - a haircut and color-lightening job.
Yet another example of how centuries-old iconography is alive and well in contemporary Japan. No one wants to have anything to do with a girl that looks like a dead woman. It's just plain bad luck.
But it's mighty fascinating, ne?
The quarter's over in a little over a week. Before then I have an interview test to take, a speech to give, a number of assorted quizzes to complete, and tons of review and preparation to undergo. And then it will be time to head off into the wilds for a week. I'm planning an extensive trip in the Izu Peninsula area - including a hike along the old Tokaido road, and visits to a plein-air museum in Hakone.
In the meantime, updates are likely to be sparse and they will be non-existent during my week-long vacation, as I have no intension dragging my expensive computer all over the countryside with me. However, I will do my best to update on the school's outdoor BBQ (at which I got totally, ferociously sunburned) and my last weekend of freedom before finals. And I'll also do my best to upload the last of the photos I have to put online.
The haircut was crucial to the process, as everyone exclaimed. You see this girl had the sad habit of wearing her hair long and black, and people thought she looked scary - like a ghost, you might say - and they called her witch and spectre. Even her friends complained about her Sadako-like appearance, sometimes asking for an impression (and subsequently squealing in terror afterwards). Potential boyfriend's laughed in her face - calling her a jinx.
The makeover consisted of diet, exercise, clothing and makeup pointers, and - of course - a haircut and color-lightening job.
Yet another example of how centuries-old iconography is alive and well in contemporary Japan. No one wants to have anything to do with a girl that looks like a dead woman. It's just plain bad luck.
But it's mighty fascinating, ne?
The quarter's over in a little over a week. Before then I have an interview test to take, a speech to give, a number of assorted quizzes to complete, and tons of review and preparation to undergo. And then it will be time to head off into the wilds for a week. I'm planning an extensive trip in the Izu Peninsula area - including a hike along the old Tokaido road, and visits to a plein-air museum in Hakone.
In the meantime, updates are likely to be sparse and they will be non-existent during my week-long vacation, as I have no intension dragging my expensive computer all over the countryside with me. However, I will do my best to update on the school's outdoor BBQ (at which I got totally, ferociously sunburned) and my last weekend of freedom before finals. And I'll also do my best to upload the last of the photos I have to put online.
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-12 10:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-14 11:21 am (UTC)