Parekh, Maya

"Beauty Through a Twilight Mirror"

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Major: Women’s and Gender Studies Minor: English (Creative Writing)

Junior; College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

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Abstract

My essay compares the conceptions of beauty and its effects on society between an episode of The Twilight Zone and an episode of Black Mirror. I first examine how both shows portray the potential of technology to alter the self, how social pressure influences individuals to alter themselves, and how people resist conformist ideals. My essay then shifts to focus on the impacts of inauthenticity and loss of self, gender ideals, the difference between traditional beauty and modern “aesthetic”, the inherent racism in beauty standards, and the potential of beauty to influence and create social class.

Class: Honors 207

Professor: Martha Martinez

Department of Sociology and Critical Ethnic Studies