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| William Morris's painting of Guinevere |
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| Painting by Judith A. Smith |
creepy. Can these men be for real? I picture these men drooling over a group of women as if they were behind glass at a zoo.
It does not end here, folks. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, stanza 18, lines 940-970, two women are described (I will paraphrase):
(The first woman): "She was the fairest in all her figure, flesh and face...even more gorgeous than Guinevere..."
(enter the second woman): "With another lady leading her...who was far more aged...I must tell you that these two were totally unalike, for if the younger one had spirit, the senior one was seared. A pink complexion suffused the one, while rough, wrinkled cheeks rolled down upon the other. The younger...her breast and bright throat were laid all bare...the senior...By God! Her body was squat and thick."
By God is right! Despite the elderly woman having high honor in society, she has lost all power over Gawain, as opposed to the woman who is exposing her breast.
Do I even have to...go into how sexist that is?
From boyishly thin to plus size, from age 16 to age 60...from black to white skin, to crazy pink hair...from hair long and curly to pixie-like short, society's idea of beauty is becoming more diverse. As diverse as the people who live in it. Not everyone can be Queen Guinevere, and it that notion in mind, it seems that the features that make a woman unique are what make her beautiful today.
What do you think? Has society truly changed, or is it as shallow about beauty as the society in Arthur's days appear to be? Who would you put on today's beauty list? Are any of them similar to the way you appear Guinevere? I don't think there is a wrong answer! 
I think beauty does play a large role in the myths. Guinevere's beauty, and the power of that beauty, is not unlike Helen of Troy's beauty. Men fought and died for such legendary beauty. The first audience hearing the tales of Arthur's court might see the parallel. It is not just the women who are noted for their beauty. The knights are described for their manly, ideal, good looks too.
ReplyDeleteOur culture may have a broader definition of beauty reflecting greater diversity, but still remains shallow. Wolf whistles and cat calls still happen. Marketing to both sexes and all age groups, the beauty industry continues to thrive. Looking good includes: anti-aging products, blemish creams, foundation creams/lotions, powders, mascara, polish, liners, fillers, Botox, hair dyes to cover the grey /high light/lowlight, gels, masques, shadows, and plenty more. If your hair is thin there are wigs, extensions, or very expensive, surgically implanted hair plugs. General hygiene includes soaps, lotions creams, shaving gels, teeth whiteners, deodorants, and perfumes. Hair removal is its on category: barbers, stylists, threading, waxing, tweezing, electrolysis, and laser hair removal. What about the fashion industry? What about the cosmetic surgery industry? How many people do you know who have "corrected" some body part? As a society, we are still shallow.
There is a definite cultural denial/fear of aging. I'm glad you included Sarandon and Streep in your pictures. The lines in their faces are visible and they're okay with them. These are woman that are saying no to the "forever young" myth. Aging happens if you're fortunate. You get old or you die. There is no other option. The baby boomers are at the magical, AARP, senior discount, and early bird special time of their lives. Will they rewrite their script, accept their mortality, or remain in denial? To dye or not to dye, that is the question...
I agree that the world is still shallow, but I hope this changes as women gain more power. Women can be knights in shining armor now, and not just maidens to swoon over. I hope this changes the beauty standard.
DeleteI definitely agree with your post, and while reading it, it had me thinking. You said that beauty plays a huge role and even in Saga of the Mantle "women seem to nearly have an enchanting power over the men, and are described as: "beautiful women and beautiful maidens...Anyhow, something about these words send a shiver down my spine. It is just so...creepy. Can these men be for real?"
ReplyDeleteAnyhow as I was thinking, these women aren't SO beautiful that their men don't cheat on them either. These writings chastise women for their infidelity, especially Guinevere for sleeping with Lancelot while she is married to King Arthur, but who are the rest of the knights sleeping with. These knights go out on these journeys for long periods of time and I'm sure dip their hand into someone else's cookie jar. I don't think these men are for real, but they are just being dramatic because they see a beautiful woman and don't know how to act. They are like little kids who see candy and want it. Although it doesn't make it right, thats how I see it.
This could be true. Perhaps the knights are just awkward, but it definitely seems like the author of this story views women as mere objects.
DeleteI think beauty today is portrayed differently than back in Medieval Times. It is definitely becoming more diverse in today's culture, as you said. In the last picture of the girl with the colorful hair, back in medieval times that more than likely would have been thought of as ugly, where as today it is looked at as pretty and different.
ReplyDeleteI think part of a reason that our culture has a more widely ranging view on beauty (although yes, still very shallow) is because our culture is more varied. I'm going to venture a guess and say there weren't as many people of Asian or African decent in the times of King Arthur in England. Well yeah, there were probably some, I highly doubt they were so well known as Oprah. Everyone knows Oprah. Out culture as well does better with the age gap. Women in King Arthur's time were scooped up to be married off as young women. Like our age. Once you were married it didn't really matter if you were beautiful. You were probably a pawn in some business deal and men would rather have a beautiful trophy wife, right? Isn't that the point of a trophy wife? Modern culture doesn't rely so much on the marriages of girls in their late teens. Older women are still seen as viable marriage prospects and sexual beings. It is easier to see them as beautiful when you first see them as people.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that everyone has come to the consensus that the world, though becoming more and more diverse, is still shallow when it comes to feminine beauty. However, my question is: Did the people in Arthurian time know anything besides Guinevere's signature beauty? What would they think of todays definition of beauty?
ReplyDelete