Courses

As experienced navigators of the image-saturated space of social media, members of Gen-Z have a sophisticated understanding of how beauty standards in our visual culture influence our self-perception. Collectively, Gen-Z has been vocal in opposing individuals or organizations that use social media to perpetuate unrealistic body standards as part of a larger struggle to shift societal standards towards a more inclusive and diverse definition of beauty.   Even as Gen-Z is lauded for changing beauty, the beauty norm still persists, and the multibillion-dollar beauty industry continues to thrive. We'll launch our course in the present moment and consider the possibilities of radical social and cultural change: how will Gen-Z impact the future of beauty?    To begin to answer this question, we will need to explore a host of related questions:

• What is a beauty standard or norm? 

• How are beauty norms reflected in our society and culture? 

• What is the role of media representation in establishing beauty norms?

• How do beauty standards influence our self-perception or identities? 

• How are intersectional identities–gender, race, class, sexuality, ability–differently affected by beauty norms? 

• How did we arrive at the beauty norms we have today—what are the historical, social, and cultural contexts that have shaped American understandings of beauty?  Along the way, we'll read novels and short stories, watch films and documentaries, analyze the social media pages of beauty influencers and celebrities, visit the IU Art Museum, and more. We'll look closely at these objects in order to dive deeper into topics like:

• Social media and beauty standards

• Female Beauty

• The Western Ideal of Beauty

• Beauty norms and Identity

• Racialized beauty norms, Colonialism, and Globalization

• Feminist responses to beauty norms

• Masculinity and Incel Culture

• Beauty, Business, and Work Culture

This course is eligible for honors credit through Hutton Honors College. 

Catalog Information: HON-H 232  MEANINGFUL WRITING

Instructor:

Emily Esola

Email:

ejesola@indiana.edu

Department:

Kelley School of Business

Dr. Emily Esola is a lecturer in the Communication, Professional, & Computer Skills program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Dr. Esola arrived at the Kelley School in 2021 after obtaining her Ph.D. from IU's English Department in 2019. As a graduate student, her research explored issues of gender and identity in American literature and culture. During this time Dr. Esola taught an array of undergraduate writing courses, an experience that afforded her the opportunity to work with, and learn from, hundreds of diverse IU students. The duality of her development (serving as both professional student and writing instructor) influences her teaching philosophy and approach to promoting meaningful learning in the undergraduate classroom. In her teaching, Dr. Esola aims to foster holistic student development by combining her scholarly and practical expertise in pedagogy for the intensive writing classroom with the guiding values of inclusivity, flexibility, and clarity.

GenEd Information: Approved for the Arts & Humanities requirement of the IU Bloomington General Education program.