Venus of Willendorf, Miss World 1951

Some things never change? Desire is imperative for the continuation of the species, but is there a need for sexual display? Many otherwise repressive societies have no trouble reproducing. With modern media, this imagery is pervasive, seductive, and all-encompassing- but not really any different today than it was 25,000 years ago. Some societies, notably the Shakers, have gone without such stimulation, only to fade, wither, and ultimately disappear.

Beauty pageants still exist, although not with the broad appeal they once had. I was always fascinated by them as a child, but paradoxically lost interest with puberty. I think that I learned early on that a woman consists of more than the sum of her (private) parts.







Miss World image via Another Nickle in the Machine