futurebird's Diaryland Diary
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a triumph of culture over brute instinct
People waiting at the bus stop near the University of Pittsburgh
If a person looks different this means that they may not be a 'team player' or a 'good pack member.' We're pack animals so this is selected against. Looking different could be a sign of a genetic fault with other implications for survival. So we both culturally and genetically look for the mundane. Both culture and individualism have the power to convince people to look beyond instinct --to find new kinds of beauty.
Uncommonly thin or fat people have been fetishsied from time to time over the course of history. The fact that we can do this is a triumph of culture (and occasionally individualism) over brute instinct.
Physical strength and healthiness are selected for in animals so I'm not surprised that strong, healthy, socially acceptable, normal looking, boring guys and girls are considered "hot." In theory, intelligence should be in that mix too-- but I think American culture has transcended what might have been a brute drive to find the most clever mate (the one who can build you and the kids a squirrel trap! yeah! squirrel meat rocks!) Well, at least I still have that trait ... I hope --does that count as individualism?
17:11:55 - 2000-12-03
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