Beauty and Business

by P. Scranton (Editor)

Leading historians explore how our ideas of what is attractive are influenced by a broad range of social and economic factors. They force us to reckon with the ways that beauty has been made, bought and sold in modern America.

344 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2000

Reviews

[Henry]

Pretty interesting book. My major takeaway is this: beauty, especially not in the context of raw beauty but rather cosmetic choices, are extention of a female's internal state. While she does want to be seen physically, she also craved to be seen internally - what she represents, how she feel etc. Lastly, the chapter about how Avon (from a less known perfume company to a massive cosmetics giant) is rather interesting. In essence, under economic hardships, people still seek luxuries to gain a sense of agency under the oppressing reality. Thus small things like lipsticks gained steam.