[Nico]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Oh, I think there is an objective standard of beauty. For instance, objectively, I suppose Brad Pitt is attractive. When classic lines and symmetry come together, I think that a majority of people can agree they look beautiful. I don't think of him that way, but I "get" that people do. I just don't like those types.

Same thing with Robert Redford. I see nothing there. On the other hand, a guy that I once loved in my youth, Jack Wagner, is often compared to Robert Redford. I totally see Jack Wagner's appeal, but that's probably because I "lived" with him every day when he was a soap opera actor. I knew his sense of humor, his mannerisms, even the different qualities of his voice, soft, strident, teasing. To me that made him gorgeous in a way that a man that other people compare him to (Redford) just isn't.

I think Gillian Anderson is "gasp, my heart can't take it" beautiful. But I know that objectively she must not be, because I remember that she was in existence before I ever noticed her and she just didn't stand out for me. Once I fell in love with the character she played, I thought I had never seen eyes that exquisite or heard a voice that melting before in my entire life. I find myself rewinding tapes just to see different expressions in her eyes and what was hilarious to me is that listening to the audio commentary for the X-Files movies, the producers were sitting there doing the very same thing.

But I do think there is a look that most disinterested, uninvolved observers will find pleasing, whether or not I agree with them. I think there is an objective standard -- which changes from generation to generation and culture to culture. If we saw the real Cleopatra or Helen of Troy today, I doubt that we would be impressed. But I do think there is a look that (never a uninanimous crowd) but an overwhelming majority will agree is good looking.

Michele

To me, you can't really beat Monica Bellucci when it comes to beauty. And I thought this before they named her the "most beautiful woman in the world" in some dumb poll. I think exterior beauty is objective in the world we encompass, but the kind of beauty that goes deeper than that is purely subjective. It's like that saying, "to the world you may be just somebody but to somebody you may be the world."