THE FUSE

American actor Ashton Kutcher—starring in The Beauty—recently said that Hollywood is not pushing unreasonably high beauty standards.¹ Is he right? Well, yes and no. He is right that entertainment is a reflection of society and its values. To explore just how far we’ll go for a perfect face and body, The Beauty, like The Substance and Uglies, examines society’s preoccupation with beauty. As we move into a more visual and virtual culture, beauty is becoming more valuable. For many, beauty is what we want most, and we'll do almost anything for it. The value we place on our looks is everywhere; it is what we spend our time, money, and effort on. We have a better day when the number on the scale goes down, we feel good when we think we look good, and we all know what a "bad hair day" is.