Beauty is often defined as the quality of things that makes these things enjoyable to see. These things may be physical or non-physical. Physical beauty, together with the beauty and personal style, is the most important theme of aesthetics, among the major branches of psychology. Other less significant themes of aesthetics include the importance of a place to a person, the need to belong to certain groups or the ability to distinguish between things.
According to the character-expressionist theory, beauty consists of the ability to locate and appropriate a meaning within the given physical appearance. For example, when we look at a beautiful woman, we may identify with her feminine beauty and desire for beauty. According to this view, there is no such thing as real beauty; all beauty is symbolic. In order to move from the character Expressionist theory to the other branches of aesthetics (phenomenology, anthropology, sociology), one has to go beyond mere identifying beauty. One has to try to understand its sources and how it relates to other psychological concepts and values.
The proposition that beauty consists of visual cues was first raised by Jean Sibelius in his play The Necklaces (c. 16ada, Act III). Sibelius claimed that human beauty is determined by three elements: the material, the color and the personal aspect. He goes on to claim that the color of a garment is an important aspect, because it can determine whether the wearer will become beautiful or ugly.
According to the character-expressionist theory, however, physical appearance is not important in determining the value or beauty of a human being. As a matter of fact, the meaning of beauty lies more in the character of the person, according to this branch of aesthetic psychology. Just as it is absurd to think that a beautiful statuesque should be ugly or a mean-spirited prince charming. Beauty instead, is a value based on the emotional response of the person – whether the person is happy, sad, angry, happy, lonely, etc.
According to the fashion industry, beauty is primarily a production process. Fashion designers say that what makes a woman beautiful is not only her physical attributes but also her inner qualities, such as her personality. In the same way, men are attracted to women who exude happiness and intelligence. Thus, both men and women use fashion to express their innermost feelings.
To conclude, both Charles Darwin and Jean Sibelius claim that beauty is a subjective quality. However, the debate still rages on. What is definitely clear is that both Charles Darwin and Jean Sibelius have great insights into the concept of beauty. But does beauty exist in the social world of the everyday man? Or is fashion just a superficial means to express beauty?
