Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Lesson objectives:

WATCHING:

- summarize main ideas from a video

- infer the meanings of new words related to beauty

SPOKEN INTERACTION:

- participate in a structured debate

Discuss per two

• What does "beauty" mean to you?
• Can something or someone be considered universally beautiful?
• Think of an example of a cultural or historical standard of beauty that might be different from others.

Watching / summarizing

Watch the video.

Take notes on any interesting points or personal anecdotes the speaker shares. Make a schematic summary of the key notes.

Hand in at the end of class.

Your schematic summary

Schematic Summary

Main Idea:

Beauty is subjective, and influenced by cultural, personal, and societal factors. The speaker emphasizes that true beauty lies within and challenges traditional, often superficial standards imposed by society.

Key Points:

• Cultural Differences: Beauty standards vary significantly across cultures and eras.
• Subjectivity: What one person finds beautiful may not appeal to someone else, highlighting its personal nature.
• Inner Beauty: True beauty reflects character, kindness, and authenticity, not just external appearance.
• Media Influence: Modern media shapes unrealistic standards, often promoting superficial ideals.
• Self-Perception: Confidence and self-worth play crucial roles in how beauty is perceived and expressed.

Comprehension

Answer these questions next.

Beauty standards are the same in all cultures.

1. true
2. false

Beauty standards are the same in all cultures.

FALSE

The speaker discusses how beauty ideals differ across cultures and historical periods.

The speaker believes that beauty is primarily an external concept.

1. true
2. false

The speaker believes that beauty is primarily an external concept.

FALSE

The emphasis is on inner beauty and character rather than physical appearance.

According to the video, self-confidence affects your perception of beauty.

1. true
2. false

According to the video, self-confidence affects your perception of beauty.

TRUE

The speaker mentions that feeling confident can make someone appear more beautiful to others.

Derive meaning from context

Answer these questions next.

"Some philosophers argue that beauty has intrinsic value beyond cultural perceptions."

What does "intrinsic" mean?

1. Hidden, secret
2. Natural or essential
3. Superficial, external
4. Changing, temporary

"Societal conformity often influences our perception of beauty."

What is "conformity"?

1. Questioning norms
2. Expressing individuality
3. Following rules or standards
4. Creating new ideas

"Our perception of beauty can change depending on cultural and personal experiences."

What does "perception" mean?

1. A way of seeing or understanding something
2. A strict rule
3. A physical characteristic
4. A historical fact

"Media often introduces a bias in defining what is considered beautiful."

What does "bias" mean?

1. A neutral opinion
2. Accurate information
3. Detailed analysis
4. Unfair preference or prejudice

"Trends in beauty are often ephemeral, changing rapidly with time."

What does "ephemeral" mean?

1. Lasting a long time
2. Extremely valuable
3. Short-lived or temporary
4. Universally accepted

"Cognitive dissonance can occur when someone recognizes that their beauty ideals are culturally constructed."

What is "cognitive dissonance"?

1. Mental discomfort from conflicting beliefs
2. Clear understanding of a concept
3. A strong personal opinion
4. An easy decision-making process

"The word 'beauty' has different connotations in different societies."

What is a "connotation"?

1. The literal meaning of a word
2. A grammatical rule
3. An idea or feeling a word invokes
4. The opposite meaning of a word

Debate

Split into 2 groups.

Proposition: Beauty is universally definable.

Opposition: Beauty is entirely subjective and culturally influenced.

Preparation:

Each group gathers points from the video and personal experiences.

 after watching the video. 

Look up information and supporting arguments.

 

 Action

1. Opening statements —2 minutes

Team One presents their position

• The argument (s) is introduced

• Evidence is submitted to support the argument

Team Two does the same.

Do not react to the other party's statements yet!

2. Main Arguments (speeches)—3 minutes

Team One reintroduces their position

• Secondary arguments are introduced

• More evidence is submitted

The other team's evidence and arguments are rebutted (anticipate!)

Team Two does the same.

 

3. Rebuttals —3 minutes 

Team One rebuttal

• Respond directly to opposing team arguments

• Sum up key points of your team position

Team Two rebuttal—3 minutes

• Respond directly to opposing team arguments

• Sum up key points of your team position 

4. Judgment and feedback

Judges or peers evaluate based on criteria like

 argument strength, evidence, clarity, and delivery.

Constructive feedback helps participants improve their skills.

IMPORTANT:

Everyone takes a turn in speaking. 

Prepare well! Look for convincing arguments and elaborate. 

Do not read from a paper while speaking. Use key notes.

Key evaluation points

• Provide evidence from trustworthy sources.
• Stay within the allocated time.
• Avoid logical fallacies.
• Show true understanding of the topic.
• Use correct vocabulary.
• Use correct grammar.
  
• Pay attention to pronunciation.
  
• Speak fluently and make eye contact.
  
• Use strong body language.