Claudia Hernandez
HUMS 1100 WA
Body Image Journal The Greek representation of the ideal body, the perfect form has been inherited to us. There are some variables, but the main idea is similar. The Greek were very concern about their appearance, it was a matter of being a man and not looking like a woman. Tanned, firm, symmetrical and muscular was ideal way to look like. I t was part of being a good citizen after all the flabby citizen was a matter of public concern. Fat was a political issue. The ideal Greek form was neither too fat or too skinny, but well defined by muscles. In their society appearance was very important. The body was displayed in the nude and it was totally normal, people could watch each-other and comment on the physical appearance. The body needed to be lean but well built-bulked up from exercise but not fat or over-muscular like a modern body builder. This is the main difference in the ideal body image between ancient Greece and our modern culture. In our modern culture, the ideal body image is very bulky, with a lot of muscle mass. We see this in our movies, TV shows, body builders. Bodybuilders displaying every muscle in their bodies, sometimes it doesn’t even look normal. A lot our athletes and TV stars have to take substances too look this way. Both Greek ideas of the ideal body and modern ideas sometimes are unrealistic. It would be so difficult for the regular person to achieve. Exercise and a very special diet can help achieve the perfect body but it would have to become more as a career if you want to be a body builder. Greeks made statues of gods with perfect bodies also impossible to achieve, but it is our nature to exaggerate, in order for something to really catch our attention. Greek concept of beauty in women is totally different of the one today. The perfect body for woman was not too fat but definitely not skinny;