Post 149: No, X-Files, No!

I am a fan of X-Files, I cannot deny it. I love the show and the chemistry between Scully and Fox. But I will shoot myself in the foot (with a rubber band, because I 'm too afraid this will happen) if they make a new series.

The new season is like a mini-series. It has Fox and Scully back in the saddle again, it is like a continuation. It is great.

However, the newest episode "Babylon", just introduced a pretty boy, daydreamer FBI agent and a red-headed, cynical agent. Sound familiar? Sounds like they are trying to introduce a new agent Scully and Fox, so that they can create a spin-off.

Red-head is also a scientific minded agent who doubts Mulder. Pretty boy is overjoyed at the idea of working in the X-Files, he called it is "dream job". AKA, the new generation of X-Files agents that are basically just younger versions of the original.

Guess what new pretty boy's name is? Miller. So, Agent Miller is the new Agent Mulder.
And even more laughable, Agent Einstein is the rational agent. Einstein. Like really? Anyway, she even has the same hair cut as Dana. Which is unfortunate, because she would really look better with bangs.

The entire episode they switch partners. Dana works with mini-Mulder. And Mulder works with mini-Dana.

I don't want a new spin-off series. Especially not like this.

If a spin-off is going to happen, I don't want it to be like the new Annie. I don't want them to just try and recreate the original. It never works. The new mini-Mulder and mini-Scully don't have the same chemistry, they don't have the same presence on screen, they just aren't the same as Fox and Scully.

If they are going to do a new series they should do something different. Even if it is just swapping their genders and making a girl the one that believes. Maybe having two scientific minded people who have to work with some consultant that is totally out there. Maybe two female or two male agents. Even just making it so that they aren't JUST younger versions of the originals.

If people want to see a cynical red head poking holes in a somewhat radical FBI agents belief in aliens, they can watch the original series.

The show that it seems like they are suggesting and setting up ALREADY EXISTS and it is still popular. It still trends on Netflix and the new mini-series with the original Scully and Mulder will send more people back to it.

PLEASE, please do not let them just try to recreate the old X-Files. It never works out as well as they think it will. And, these two new actors - one of whom I actually know from playing Freddie in the unpopular live-action remake movies of Scooby Doo - just don't seem like they are as deep (or even really capable of playing as deep) as the original characters.

I don't want a X-Files Light version. Please, X-Files, keep the original actors or try something new.

Post 148: Princess and the Frog Re-Write

So, while my mom was in Denmark she picked up tiny frogs for the people in her office. Tiny frogs with tiny crowns. They are adorable. I also got one. Anyway, while the Grimm Brothers were not actually Danish, the story of the Frog Prince is often set in Denmark (at least, the Prince is in Denmark). So, it was an appropriate gift from the country (even though I'm thinking that it is actually in the gift shop because they are trying to get tourists to assume it was by H.C. Andersen). But, it still works. 

Anyway, I wrote a version of the story to company the tiny frog. And this is what I wrote:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time, back when people believed in magic and feared witches as they should, a young German prince made a horrible mistake. He was out in the woods and came across a well. Most wells today have lost their charm, but in the prince’s day some wells were a home to a witch.  And if you dropped her a coin, a gem, or offering of another sort that pleased her, she would grant your wish.

The prince believed in wishes and magic, but believed them to be cheats and trickery. So, when he came upon the well and looked down into its depths, he scoffed and threw down a rock, “if this truly is a magic well, then I wish that the rock would turn into a piece of silver and return back to me.” 

He heard a noise and out came a piece of silver and it flew right up to him, only to hit him square between his eyes. He cursed and drew his sword shouting things that should not have come from a prince's mouth. He started kicking at the well and as stones tumbled down from its a walls, the witch awoke and she was not happy.

“How dare you take for granted the gift you were given, when you were lucky to receive any gift at all!” The witch was enraged at the prince’s disrespect. As she came out of the well with clouds of smoke billowing up behind her, the prince jumped back and, though he’d never admit it, he was very afraid. 

“If you were so great and powerful, you’d know I was a prince and would need a silver coin. And as a prince, you should not have had it sent out in such a manner!” He stood with his shoulders pulled too far back as he tried to feign courage. 

“I see…you don’t like the wish I gave you. How about I give you another? One that will teach you to appreciate the power of magic. Since you are so concerned with being treated as a prince…how about I turn you into something else…like a mouse?” The witch said, chuckling as he grimaced in response. 

“I do not wish to impose upon you any further. There is no need to grant any more wishes, especially ones I did not ask for,” he responded. 

“You’re right…you’re right…but I insist…Though, mice have many redeeming qualities. Some even are made to be pets…no, let me think…ah ha! I will make you a frog!” Before he could protest, he suddenly found himself staring at the bottom of the well. He was now quite small. 

“What have you done to me? You have striped me of my birthright! My crown!” He shouted as loudly as his little lungs could. 

The witch stooped over and place a ring of gold on his head, “here you go, a tiny crown for a tiny prince.” She chuckled as she started to return down the well. 

“Wait! Isn’t there anything I can do to be a prince again?” He shouted after her hopping towards the well after her. 

“Quite simple really. Find a princess. Get her to kiss you. Simple as that.” 

“But I’m a frog, who would kiss a frog?” The frog prince said in despair. 

The witch disappeared with her final words echoing through the well, “that was kind of the point, princey.”

The frog prince was upset, but determined. He set off to find a princess that would kiss him, or even just talk to him without sending cats or shoes flying at him. It took longer than he expected. He hopped through most of Europe before he finally came to Denmark, the land of cobblestones and amber. 

While he was discouraged by his lack of progress, he had not given up hope. However, the cobblestones hurt his little legs. After all, he could not wear shoes. So, he hopped and hopped until he came to a pond in a nice garden. 

He thought to himself, ‘this will be a nice place to relax.’ As he was swimming in the pond, he did not a notice a young girl sitting on bridge that divided the well. If he had noticed, he would not have been so surprised by the loud plop of her golden ball falling into the water. 

He turned and saw the young girl crying. He swam over to ask her what was wrong. 

“Excuse me, miss? Why are you crying? Did you drop something into the water?” The girl jumped up as she was startled by his words, or by the mere fact he was a talking frog. 

“It’s…it’s princess to you, frog. And I dropped my favorite golden ball. Now I will never get it back!” She finished in a loud sob, but while her words made her cry harder, the frog prince found joy in them. Or, rather, hope. 

“I will get it back for you. If you will promise to help me in return.” He said. 

“Yes, yes. Of course!” The princess shouted eagerly, not knowing what it was she had even agreed to do. 

The frog prince quickly swam down, and only upon returning did he realize how difficult his feat actually was, as swimming as a frog really took all of his limbs – so, he had to hold the ball with his mouth. 

When he got to the top and she had acquired her ball, he made his way next to her on the bridge, “now you owe me. You promised.” 

“Yes, yes. What do you want?” She said, eager to get rid of this strange talking thing. 

“A kiss-“ he barely finished saying it when the princess burst into laughter. 

“Surely, you can’t be serious. I’m a princess…I’m not going to kiss a frog!” 

“But I’m not really a frog! I’m a prince!” He argued. 

She laughed again before saying, “right…you’re really a prince and I’m really a turnip.”

“You promised!” He protested hopping up and down angrily, like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Alright, alright!” The princess shouted rolling her eyes in defeat. She bent over, picked up the frog and kissed him as quickly and distantly as possible. And though her eyes were closed, when it was over she could tell she was no longer in the presence of a frog. 

She opened her eyes, and he was a prince. 

“Thank you, princess! You have saved me from a lifetime of webbed-ribbit!” He laughed and waved his hand dismissively, “force of habit. I’m sure it will go away.” 

In the end, the frog prince became a frog again and he was very grateful to the princess. She was very excited that he was not just a frog, because it meant that she could go the rest of her life knowing she hadn’t kissed a frog, but a prince. And in typical fairy tale fashion, they got married and lived happily ever after. 

And the moral is: Sometimes you have to kiss a frog to get a prince, but just because he turns into a prince doesn’t necessarily mean he will stop acting like a frog. 

Post 147: Ghosts, Pranksters or Chance? Part 2

"But I do know that if I get mysteriously "pushed" down a flight of stairs, start hearing voices, or any of the more frightening and violent aspects of a haunting, I'm not going to do what those idiots in horror movies do - I am just going to move." - Me, like less than a year ago, as I lived in denial. 

Sadly, I need to post a retraction. Because I did NOT in fact do that. In reality, I just ignored it and told myself it was nothing. For days...and days...and days. 

So, what happened is:

My mom and my step-dad went out of town. They were going to Mexico for just over a week. While they were gone, my step-sister was at her mom's so it was just the dog and I. 

It all started well, until I thought I heard noises coming from upstairs. I wasn't sure what it was, but just assumed that it was an open window upstairs and I was hearing the neighbors. Sometimes it sounded like voices, sometimes music, sometimes nothing. It was kind of creepy, but I had work most of the day so I was only home at night. 

So, it isn't like I was awake much of the time it was happening. But, it was really starting to bug me after a few days because I was really concerned. I told myself Shirley wouldn't have just let some stranger get in and how would more than one person have made it in anyway? 

Days and days, I was concerned about the noises I heard. But I couldn't bring myself to investigate either. What if it was ghosts or people living in our attic? What was I going to do? What could I do? And what if it was nothing? I mean, that meant I was being ridiculous or just hearing things. 

So, I ignored it. 

On the VERY last night I was alone, I finished washing something for my mom and went to take it up to her room when the music got louder. It was kind of creepy and I heard it from her office. It was dark and it wasn't her style of music, so I wasn't sure what it was. 

Instead of getting a weapon of any kind or even a flashlight, I pushed the door open and went in. 

It was Criminal Minds. She left her mini DVD player on, I assume on pause. When the power went out on the second day, it restarted and played through. So, episode after episode went through. Then it went to the main menu, then after a few hours it restarted again.

I was vindicated and safe from the paranormal. Though, I did wish that I had investigated sooner. But, I mean, it was just noises. I'd like to think if something did push me down the stairs I'd have the sense to leave. 

Advanced Protection from BAND-AID® Brand

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Post 146: Fact or Fiction: It's Always the Bad Boy

In most love triangles, there are two guys and one girl (don't worry this is not another love triangle rant, but it is a rant of sorts). And usually of the two guys one is the stereotypical "nice guy". He is friends with her first (usually). He is nice to her at all times, and generally willing to go out of his way for her whenever she asks him to (and sometimes when she doesn't). In some media he crosses the line between friend and doormat. Then there is another very different guy. He is usually broody and stubborn. He doesn't usually express his emotions with words so much as outbursts or sulking. He tends to be the "bad boy" type.

And 99% of the time, that is who the girl ends up with.

Mortal Insturments: Sweet Simon vs. Moody Jace? It's Jace.
Twilight: Brooding Edward or Brotherly Jake? It's Edward.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Honorable Norrington or Pirate Will? It's Will.
Coffee Prince: Arrogant HK or supportive HS? It's HK.
Gilmore Girls: Jerk Jess or Loving Dean? It's Jess.
My Fair Lady: Devoted Freddy or Distant Higgins? It's Higgins.
You're Beautiful: Mean TK or Kind SW? It's TK.
Boys Before Flowers: Vindictive JP or Sensitive JH? It's JP.
Secret Garden: Entitled KJ or Caring IJ? It's KJ.

But, in most cases, what brings them together is not that he is a rude, arrogant jerk that needs to be slapped in the face with reality. It is that he SPOKE UP. He SAID something. It is usually connected to arrogance or jerkiness, because he feels kind of entitled to her. But it means that she KNOWS how he feels, and so starts thinking of him that way.

In Mortal Instruments, Simon says nothing until she has already fallen for Jace.
In Twilight, Jake plays the part of her brother, until it is too late.
In Pirates, well Norrington came WAY too late to the party. She's been crushing on Will since they were kids.
In Coffee Prince, HS didn't act on his feelings until she a) found out he had a girlfriend and b) had moved on.
In You're Beautiful, TK knows she is a girl and she knows that TK knows she is a girl. (For clarification, she is pretending to be a guy for reasons.) So everything he does, she sees him doing it for her as a girl. Meanwhile, she doesn't know SW knows she is a girl. So, what he does to win her over (gifts, compliments, secret sharing, hugs, things like that) she assumes he is doing as a brother figure. SPEAK UP DUDE~! I was actually rooting for you (in one version, at least).
In Secret Garden, IJ spends every day with her at work, but never tells her how he feels. He even distances himself at times when he thinks she might be noticing. Suddenly KJ appears and what does he do? He goes to her work. He brings her to his work. He shows up at her house. He actively pursues her. He doesn't just sit on the sidelines and hope she will notice him. 
In Boys Before Flowers, he doesn't saying anything until JP has already declared her his girlfriend. Like really? You're speaking up a little late considering she has actually already made it pretty clear she liked you, then backed off since she thought you were in love with someone else.

(By the way, that is how a love triangle SHOULD BE. Two girls like the same guy, she sees he cares about the other girl more and instead of being rude or cruel, she encourages him to be with her and her to be with him because she knows it will make him happy.)

Anyway, my point is that the girl doesn't always pick the bad boy (at least not BECAUSE he is a bad boy). Most of the time, she just picks the one who bothered to SPEAK UP first. Katniss chose "nice guy" Peeta in Hunger Games, why? He confessed he loved her in front of everyone before Gale ever confessed at all.

It's not about who is nicest, its about who is first to say something. If any of these "nice guys" had spoken up sooner, they'd have had a lot better chance at getting the girl to see them as more than a friend. It is like they are written as being so timid that they just want to sit on the side and hang out just behind her, hoping she will turn around and notice them while the jerk guy will jump up and down in front of her screaming "NOTICE ME". And then the nice guy is surprised when she doesn't pick him.

People aren't psychic. If you just hang out in their periphery they might totally miss you. And it will be your fault for not doing anything. Not theirs.

Anyway, I just wanted to express my thoughts about the subject.

Post 145: Love Triangles and why they annoy me.

Love Triangles annoy me. A love triangle is when two people like the same person. But could also be explained as, two people ignore the feelings of the person they supposedly care about and instead of treating them like a person with feelings, treat them like an object or trophy to be won. 

Which is what they do. 

In Girl Meets World: Two friends like the same guy. One girl dates him, but then says she likes him as a brother - he says he doesn't feel like her brother, she ignores him. So, she pushes him and her friend together. The friend and he go out. Turns out girl #1 likes him, a mutual friend announces it. So suddenly he knows they both like him and have basically been pushing him back and forth because they don't want to hurt each other. But...

Does anyone bother to ask how he feels? Or even acknowledge it when he says anything? No.

In Mortal Instruments: Simon and Jace both like Clary. Simon then throws a fit when she is with Jace, like really? If you really care about her then why are you treating her like this? Why are you acting like her feelings don't matter?

In My Best Friends Wedding and Made of Honor: the point of the movie is someone coming back to break up the wedding of the person they care about and their new fiancee. Like really? They clearly care about that person if they are getting married, so why are you trying to ruin their happiness? And what do you really think ruining their wedding will bring you? It is, honestly, just selfish. It is someone putting their own feelings before the person they supposedly care about's feelings.

(I didn't see the end of Made of Honor, but I really hope she didn't leave the guy she loved and agreed to marry for the jerk that showed up at the last minute to ruin her wedding after being in love with her for so long but never acting on it.)

This Means War movie summary? Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman. Or better explained as: two CIA agents disregard their oath to the country and use their training against each other over a girl--as if this will actually resolve the issue. Like she will just automatically go to whichever one wins. Last I checked, feelings don't work like that. 

Anyway, I am tired of seeing this. Seeing girls fight over who gets the guy, or guys arguing about who had 'dibs'. You can't call dibs on a person. You cannot pick who gets who. That is not how the real world works. 

I feel like most of the time this shows up, the two characters might as well be fighting over a hairbrush for the sheer lack of consideration they put into thinking about how the person they are fighting over feels.

Like really. 

A: C is mine!

B: No, C is mine!

C: Does anyone care how I feel? 

A: No. Because we love you so much we don't actually care how you feel. 

B: We will duel at dawn and whoever wins gets to date you. 

C: But I like someone else. 

A: Then they better show up for the duel and win. 

B: Or else they don't get to date you. Because that is the rules in a love triangle. 

Post 144: Google Chrome

I signed into Google on a computer on campus today and was completely shocked to see all my bookmarks along the top of the page. Not as shocked as I was to say Hola! (an extension that allows me to use a proxy, which means I can be in Canada and watch American Netflix). It was weird. I noticed Hola! first and was confused, who had downloaded Hola on the computer? How had they gotten past the administrator rights? Surely, the school wouldn't have added it, so who did?

That is when I realized that Google Chrome is connected to my Google account, something I had known but not really understood what it meant. I didn't really think it would save those things. I never really thought about how the connection between the two worked.

It is interesting, though I'm not sure that I 100% am happy about it. I mean, it is nice that I can save things between computers. However, it does mean that my browser history, bookmarks, most visited pages, etc. are personal things rather professional things. Like Facebook and Youtube come up as the top sites, so if my colleagues or superiors saw it - they might think that I am slacking off at work and going on these sites instead of working. Though, I have gone on these sites at lunch.

Also, what if I forget to sign out? Will it have me signed in on other user accounts? Will someone else sign in and have access to my blog, email, bookmarks, or history?

I think this is something that is still up for debate as to whether it is a helpful feature or not. Anyway, I didn't have too much to say about it. So, going to end this post here.

Post 143: Top Ten Non-Disney Princesses

Or rather, top ten female characters that would be considered Disney Princesses if they were, in fact, Disney characters. By this I mean, characters that would be labelled as Disney Princesses, even though they aren't technically Princesses. Like Official Disney Princess, Mulan and unofficial princesses like Alice, Esmeralda, and Tinkerbell. 

I will reserve the Top Five for Official Princesses. 

1. Tuptim - The King and I

Tuptim is very sweet, but also a really cool character because she was really open-minded. She presented an interesting paradox between the King's eldest son and herself. He felt he knew everything and wasn't really interested in learning anything different at first, but he had a tutor who came all the way from England to teach him. While she was eager to read and learn new things, even though her being able to read was considered a crime. Yet, even though she wasn't supposed to, she continued to read. And even though she knew she would get in trouble for it, you could tell she took pride in it. She also helps save the day. (Obviously, this is based off the animated version, because it has a happy, death-free ending.)

2. Thumbelina - Thumbelina

Being about two inches tall is probably hard enough without adding kidnapping toads, pervy beetles, and, a materialistic mouse. And yet, Thumbelina handles the hardships she faces with grace. She makes her way across a great distance (okay, so it is probably like her backyard - but that's pretty big for her!) with the help of her friends, showing great compassion as she goes.

3. Yum Yum - The Princess and the Cobbler

Yum Yum and Thumbelina are probably tied. The only reason Thumbelina made it to slot #2, is that I liked the animation better for it. There is nothing wrong with the animation for the Princess and The Cobbler, it just isn't as fluid. Yum Yum is a strong character. She is also very clever.

4. Odette - Swan Princess

Odette's character is 4, but could also be 7. I go back and forth, because I really liked her character in the beginning, but not as much later on. She starts off as an adorable and clever kid. She grows up and her and the Prince are constantly at odds. But a kind of playful at odds, then they meet as adults and are instantly smitten. Why? Who knows. He says "let's get married" because their parents are trying to set them up and he's like "let's do this". She says, "okay...but...what do you actually like about me? Like we weren't even friends before and now you're like 'I love you'?" And he says, "you're beautiful." And she's like "thanks but...what else?" Basically, is that all he's into? And he says "what else is there?" And she is like "nope...not going to marry some vain jerk." But, then they don't see each other again and she is all BUT I LOOOOOVE HIIIIIMMM. I mean, it is like love at first sight, if you don't count their childhood, because they almost never have a legitimate conversation. I mean, she went from "I won't marry you" to "you're my true love" without really much of anything in between. I mean, he felt bad. And the audience knew that, but she didn't. Anyway, she has a pretty strong character otherwise. So, if I overlook the lack of real conversation between the two, she is at 4. Otherwise, she is still on the list at 7, because she takes on a lot even as just a bird.

5. Nancy - Enchanted

I love Nancy, I don't know if she fully counts as a princess, though. I mean, she marries the prince, but she wasn't really the one who was supposed to marry him. If the story had been based off a book, it'd be like if Cinderella disappeared so the princess married a step-sister. But, she is great. In the end, she even steps back and pushes her boyfriend to Giselle, because she knows they belong together. She is straight-forward and driven. Honestly, she will make a great Queen.

6. Kayley - Quest for Camelot

Kayley is kick-arse, but not a princess. If she were a literal princess she'd have gotten a higher rating. I love her. I don't like the romance as much because it suffers the way so many others suffer - a brief romance that starts with "You are annoying me" and quickly develops to, "we connect on microscope level either through a common friend or experience, so that means it is true love." Anyway, other than that, she is great. She is a clutz and a spazz, but she dreams about fighting for her home and for honor in her father's memory. And she goes off to save Camelot on her own, later meeting a man in the forest who helps her. Later on, she even goes single-handedly against the villain - even though he is like three times her size and has a magical sword for a hand.

7. Anastasia - Anastasia

Anastasia is stubborn, but also very strong. She has a lot of stuff to deal with (evil villain with the ability to create an army of magic, giant evil bat-things to destroy a bridge? pretty big stuff), and though she is scared - she keeps going and fighting. She also has a lot of integrity. She grew up in an orphanage with no memories and a caretaker that seems kind of harsh (though, she did keep Anya along time and even helped get her a job, so she has to care for her at least a little). And when presented with the opportunity to live as a Grand Duchess, she turns it down at first because she doesn't want to lie about who she is, even if it means money and power. And in the end, she chooses to be with Dmitri over money. Which is sweet, plus - I'd like to think - it was also a choice for freedom. She found out her past, but her life brought her to a different future. Like...just because she found out who she was when she was little, doesn't change who she became. 

8. Chel - Road to El Dorado

Chel is hilarious, she is also very clever - being one of the only people in El Dorado who isn't taken by the Miguel and Julio's 'god' disguise. She is ambitious and adventurous. She is a great help to them and to the people of El Dorado. If it wasn't for her, the main characters would have been killed a dozen times over and, even though she came between them, it wasn't out of ill-intentions.  

9. Marina - Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Marina is tough and determined. She takes on pirates and the goddess of destruction to save her fiance, a fiance she doesn't even love but just greatly respects and cares for. She saves their lives with great wit and determination. She is such a great character, and the only woman who could keep Sinbad in line.

10. Susan - Monsters vs. Aliens

Susan is pretty awesome. My favorite thing about her isn't even how she is, but how she develops as a character. In the beginning, she is kind of co-dependent and scared. She is scared of what happened to her and spent most of the movie wanting to go back, but along the way she realized what she was capable of and grew as a person. In the end, she even makes the choice of giving up a normal life and risking her life to save her friends.

American Horror Story (TV Series - 2011)

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Post 142: Retro-Writing: Beauty

A new series? Already? Yes, a new series. This series will be sort of a filler series - I'll admit. It is what the title suggests, though not exactly accurately. This tag and series will be old writings that I've decided to post. This shall be the first, an essay I wrote - thoug,h I don't remember when, why, or for what - on beauty.

Beauty:

There are many things in the world that are considered beautiful, but what makes something beautiful? Beauty is simple; something is considered beautiful if it is pleasant to one of the senses. A beautiful song or sound is one that is pleasant to the ears, and the sense of hearing. A beautiful sight is one that is pleasant to the eyes, and the sense of sight. A beautiful scent is one that is pleasant to the sense of smell.  A beautiful taste is a pleasant taste and a beautiful texture is one that is pleasant feeling, however typically things are not normally described as beautifully tasting or feeling.

            

What is considered beautiful tends to vary between societies. In North America, things that are typically described as beautiful are auditory or visual. Commonly, things like landscapes and art are described as appearing or looking beautiful. However, art and beauty should not be synonymous. Art is something creative; something original and something that makes people who experience it or come in contact with it think or feel something. However, while art like beauty is in the ‘eye of the beholder’, it can be art without being beautiful. A painting that evokes dark and unpleasant feelings would typically be described as beautiful. If the person viewing it did describe it as beautiful, it would be because something in the painting appealed to them on some level. It could be that they find the dominant colour used a pleasant colour. Alternatively, a beautiful painting of a pleasant looking cottage might make some feel pleasant and relaxed, or inspire a feeling of security; while, it makes others feel ill or irritated at its simplicity (or reminds others of the evil witches cottage in fairy tales) so they may not describe it as being beautiful.

            

People are also described as being beautiful. However, there are two different contexts that can be perceived when a person is described as being beautiful. They can be described as beautiful in appearance and/or beautiful in essence and personality. Beauty is skin deep in many ways, though, because it is limited to what can be experienced through the senses. A person can be pleasant looking, but not be considered to have a beautiful personality. You cannot tell a person’s personality without observing their actions or hearing their words. A person is not just seen as having a beautiful personality without proof; they are seen as such through their actions or words- which can be experienced through the senses to create a pleasant feeling. For example, to know that someone is generous we would need to see them donating money. Donating money would be the pleasant sight, or sensual experience, needed for us to perceive that person as having a beautiful personality.

            

People can also be described as having a beautiful voice. The description of a person’s appearance or voice can show just how subjective a person’s perception of beauty is, as people that are liked tend to inspire a higher level of pleasantness, while people who are disliked tend to inspire more discontent. For example, in a relationship one person might find the other person’s voice very beautiful, however after they break up they might view the other’s voice more in comparison with nails on a chalkboard. However, the perception of the sense is processed differently in the two situations, making it remain true that it is what the person experiences with the senses they have.

            

Music is also something that is described as being beautiful. This is another area where the subjective nature of beauty becomes very apparent. While most people can agree that classical music has moments of beauty and can be very beautiful, not everyone enjoys classical music the same way. People can recognize the pleasant aspects of it, without truly enjoying the music genre as a whole. This relates back to the painting and visual beauty. The painting might be on the disturbing side, but if there is some aspect of it that inspires a pleasant feeling, than it can be seen as beautiful. The same is true with music. One can also enjoy a song, without it being beautiful. Most rap and heavy metal lacks a pleasantness, since they tend to have a rough quality too them. However, that is how they are supposed to be. So, if people can enjoy them even though they don’t necessarily find them beautiful.

            

Besides the senses, there are things that effect our interpretations of beauty. However, they only change the way we interpret what we sense, not what we sense. For example, the two people mentioned earlier in a relationship have different views during the relationship and after. This isn’t due to a change in appearance or voice; simply the emotion associated it with it. It can be agreed that the voice of a friend is more pleasant that the voice of a stranger, even when taken out of the context of ‘friend’ and ‘stranger’, the stranger might have a more pleasant voice. This is because our emotions caller the context. This also occurs based on the feelings we have in the moment we are experiencing and sensing. If we are in a happier mood, we are more likely to view things favourably. If we are in a poor mood, we might find things more unpleasant than they otherwise would be. However, as the thing itself doesn’t change only the way we perceive it, it can be rationalized that it is our senses that determine what is beautiful from what isn’t.

            

If a person had never had the ability to sense anything – could never see, smell, taste, hear or feel – then they would not have any concept of beauty is. They could not perceive it, because they could not experience anything through their senses. However, if a person lost their ability to sense anything – could no longer see, smell, taste, hear or feel – then they could still imagine beauty, because they could recall what they had previously found pleasant. This would allow them to experience beauty through the memory of the things they had sensed before. The same way remembering a happy moment or memory stimulates feelings of happiness in the present.

            

In conclusion, beauty is nothing more than what we perceive as pleasant through our senses. This can be seen in what we perceive as beautiful, as well as how our perceptions of what is and isn’t beautiful can change when our emotions toward things change. Since, beauty is perceived through our senses in the same way colour or pitch is determined it is simple in nature. This simplicity in what beauty is makes it easy for people to use it and take it into consideration when trying to make things beautiful, if people don’t try and dig deeper and over-complicate it.  

Cinderella (1997)

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