Steven Hunter – Craig Harper: Beauty…and Then What?

A nip and a tuck away from happiness?

I just read an article by Craig Harper entitled, “Beauty…and Then What.” The article examines how there is a growing trend for people to have something “enhanced” through plastic surgery. Harper explains that people have the idea that they will achieve happiness once there one problem is fixed.

The author makes an interesting point about how the body has become a person’s sole identity. This reminds me of Fight Club and how the material items, such as brand name clothing and furniture, stood as a man’s identity. I think that people should not use material items as a status symbol and should see their actions and beliefs as their identity.

Another thing that comes to mind here is existentialism. The people who are getting these procedures are creating meaning in their life through their actions. They feel like they are bettering themselves by getting surgery.

This was an interesting article and really showed how focused our society has become on appearance. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with plastic surgery because it helps people feel better about themselves, so why not? I wouldn’t have anything done because I don’t feel like changing anything like that would dramatically increase my confidence, but I think anyone who does feel it would make them happier should go do it as long as it is safe and they have the means to do it.