Beauty is somewhat of an abstract idea, considering each person can perceive appearances differently. What one person finds pleasing to the eye, another person may not. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines beauty as “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.” Biologically, humans are innately attracted to symmetry, and certain other qualities. This stems from the evolutionary desire to find a healthy reproductive partner. For example, a female with wider hip would be more attractive because this quality eases childbirth. Mathematically, the Golden Ratio is considered to be most aesthetically pleasing and was used frequently by Renaissance architects and artists.
Personally, however, an individual’s concept of beauty can be completely separate from another’s. Runway models are purported by their industry to be iconic of beauty. Many people see them to the contrary and feel that they are far to thin. Thus everyone has their own concept of beauty, although certain things may influence that concept from a cultural standpoint. Today’s American culture tends to value plump lips, for example. In the Heian era of Japan’s history, women practiced ohaguro, the fashion of dying one’s teeth black. In that era, black things like lacquer glaze were seen as beautiful. This may seem strange to us today, but it was completely normal in the Heian culture.
In art, personal preference to a piece can be strongly linked to whether that person finds a particular piece visually appealing. I myself am one of these people who desires aesthetically pleasing qualities in art. However, what I may consider ugly, someone else might think is a masterpiece.
Very nice example for cultural preferences. The question is, do we have a choice? Is our given genetic makeup prevent or dictate any of our choices?