Article by BR Tabatha
images via YouTube
When you think back over the past hundred years it can be mind boggling to consider all the changes the world has experienced, from the upheaval of wars to the expansion of travel to technological innovations. But throughout this time no matter what has changed or evolved, one thing has continued to bond us with our mothers, our grandmothers, our great grandmothers and even our great great grandmothers. That thing is beauty.
If you haven’t discovered the 100 Years of Beauty video series yet, it’s a must-watch. Over the course of a minute or two we see how beauty has changed over the last 100 years for women in different countries and different cultures.
What’s interesting to note is that at the beginning of each video the country depicted has its own sense of self and style, then as time went on, as Hollywood showed its depiction of ideal beauty on the silver screen, as television featuring images from the USA became more prevalent, a clear cohesiveness can be seen in how women groomed themselves in nearly every part of the world –from the ladylike elegance of the 30s, to the glamour of the 50s, to the sky-high bouffant styles of the 60s.
At the same time, the changing face of beauty can be seen during political changes and periods of upheaval, such as in Iran’s 100 Years of Beauty video where the hijab is removed during the Pahlavi Dynasty, then returns following the Iranian Revolution. Changes can also be seen during Korea’s 100 Years of Beauty where the country divided into North and South Korea, with two distinct styles evolving.
Then in the 90s, when the internet exploded and women could more easily see a broader range of beauty than that depicted on the big and small screen, individual style can be seen to flourish, with women taking inspiration from women other than Hollywood screen sirens. A theme that continues to the final shot, featuring the decade we are in now, where the women can be seen embracing their own natural beauty, whilst embracing their own personal and even cultural style, perhaps as their great great grandmother did herself one hundred years ago.
Have you seen the 100 Years series? What are your thoughts? Are you yet to view them? Take a look here.
Wow shows how much American trends influenced other cultures perception of beauty.