The illusion of eternal youth
Botox, face lifts, tattoos, liposuction and a host of many other forms of wizardry. Body makeovers that alter every single detail: dying to become different from the way Mother Nature intended us to be. Stopping time in the quest to avoid being killed by it. Aspiring for eternity, striving for perfection. We have turned into a surreal sort of beauty; imagination is the madwoman of the house; we have gone beyond all safety limits and our lives risk becoming senseless shells.
Beauty does not only mean standardization, but it also means diversity. “Trends,” these so-called monsters that we unconditionally bow down to, change our features not by way of threats — but through the illusion of eternal youth. Thereby to avoid surrendering their scepter, women (the very personification of beauty from the time they came into the world), in the name of Her Majesty beauty, engage in the battle of eliminating all contradictions and flaws; this results in them becoming women who no longer possess their charm, who have surrendered those little details that distinguish them from the others — the things that make them unique in the eyes of those who love them.
And so to hell with originality, the freedom of creating a style and model that take proportions and personalities into account. Today’s women dare not make an appearance stating “this is the way I am,” but opt for an artificial image. They do not perceive the danger of depersonalization — that reaps irreparable damage. Women should manage their own lives and not place themselves in the hands of others. The battle for personal fulfillment is threatened by standardization, which goes to the extent of undermining even sentimental spheres. Subliminal persuasion promoted by a consumer society that considers humans simply as trade goods. The product itself wins over freedom of choice, originality and the right of thinking with one’s mind.
Life should not be narrated by digging into one’s own skin. There is nothing more marvelous that a woman’s skin, smooth and supple as alabaster, like a cloud through which one can catch a glimpse of the sky and the sun. Women, do not use a branding iron for your joys or suffering, do not suffer any distress to be beautiful — life should be lived with your presence, your participation, your will to establish yourselves with your own ideas.
“The beauty of the world… has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder.” (Virginia Woolf)
Translation by Vittoria Farallo
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Italics Magazine was born less than two years ago in Rome, from the idea of two friends who believed that Italy was lacking a complete, in-depth, across-the-board source of information in English. While some publications do a great job, writing about the latest news or focusing on specific areas of interest, we do believe that other kinds of quality insights are just as needed to better understand the complexity of a country that, very often, is only known abroad for the headlines that our politicians make, or for the classic touristic cliches. This is why Italics Magazine is quickly becoming a reference for foreign readers, professionals, expats and press interested in covering Italian issues thoroughly, appealing to diverse schools of thought. However, we started from scratch, and we are self-financing the project through (not too intrusive) ads, promotions, and donations, as we have decided not to opt for any paywall. This means that, while the effort is bigger, we can surely boast our independent and free editorial line. This is especially possible thanks to our readers, who we hope to keep inspiring with our articles. That’s why we kindly ask you to consider giving us your important contribution, which will help us make this project grow — and in the right direction. Thank you.