Reddit reviews On Ugliness

You might appreciate Umberto Eco's book On Ugliness, and how it was historically associated with moral impurity/degeneracy. People who were visibly afflicted with an illness were often perceived as suffering from divine judgement for their wrong acts.

This pretty much covers it.

(Actually a really great coffee table book.)

I dont understand the questions but i recommend this to the sub.

Yep, here we are: this is the entrance to the rabbit hole. I really don't want to start the never ending debate about what is ugly and what is beautiful, and how my ugly is your beautiful and vice-versa.

I'll just attempt to explain what I said by asserting that I find this beautiful (just as its curator intended, I would suspect).

What I mean by "ugly" is that which is valueless on any (or almost any) sane scale (of course, I have just invited you to call me out on the "sane" bit). That which is no way admirable, if you will.That which is forced, uninspired and uninspiring, lukewarm. That which screams "I should not have been created". That which does not belong.

I'm sure I've failed in my explaining, but it's OK. I've gotten used to it.

I had actually just finished 'The Bell Jar'. It was very interesting and sad. I have conflicted opinions on it.

Just started reading On Ugliness, the complementary book to History Of Beauty. Since I have an attraction to grotesque, I love it. Usually there isn't an actual discussion on ugliness, only as contraditction to beauty, so it's incredibly interesting, imo.

Edit: Oh! also fanfiction.

Have your read Eco's History of Beauty?

Or his On Ugliness?

Along these lines, Umberto Eco's On Ugliness is fantastic.

There is also the companion History of Beauty

If you want more fun aesthetics of ugliness reading and think you'd be interested in a super visual take with a heavy focus on classical painting, check out On Ugliness by Umberto Eco

http://www.amazon.com/On-Ugliness-Umberto-Eco/dp/0847837238