The Pretty Hurts Music Essay

“Pretty Hurts” is the opening track on her self-titled album, and I believe that this makes a statement towards the contemporary feminists’ issues of today. There are many different social problems that the song tackles. Beyoncé is known as a feminist, and on each of her albums some songs are about female empowerment such as, “Single Ladies,” “Irreplaceable,” and “Run the World (Girls).” The theme of “Pretty Hurts” can be interpreted to be

There are beauty standards all over the world, but America has one of the most highest and unreachable standard of the all. In the article “Whose Body is This,” the author Katherine Haines reflects the issue on how narrow-minded society, magazine and the rest of media is depicting the perfect body. The ideal body in America is established as skinny, tall, perfect skin, tight body are characteristics that destroyed majority of woman’s self esteem (172). As girls get older and into their teen years, they have been brainwashed to need to look like the unrealistic, and photoshopped models in magazines and advertisements. Girls don’t feel comfortable to be in their own skin, because they were not taught to love themselves for who they are right in the beginning.

“Pretty Hurts” by Beyonce is embedded with Pathos.“Are you happy with yourself?, ” (Beyonce, Pretty Hurts). This line of the song provoking and emotion-filled song causes the listener to think about their self-esteem. The lyrics have the ability to emotionally connect to the audience that he or she is speaking to, as the topic is not one spoken about much. The emotions of how society can make people feel, pressured, self-conscious, not worthy. The songs make the audience reflect on themselves, do they fall into the pressure? The diction used surfaces sadness, shame, indignation. “ain't got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away” creates sadness, as many people change themselves into someone they are not, such as taking pills and undergoing

What does being beautiful really mean? It is the possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, or think about. It goes way beyond the looks but what is within. The media seems to have a different view on beauty. The concept to tell someone what they are or what they should be, is what the media exhibits to society with ideal females known as “models.” In Curtis Sittenfeld, “Your Life as a Girl,” she describes the life as a female and the way they are being viewed. Although all females are beautiful, they feel like they need to appear a certain way to be categorized as such. Living in a world where others opinions are more powerful than one’s own, makes it harder for women to actually consider themselves as being beautiful.

When I was in fifth grade, I was caught between two worlds, playing a woodwind or string instrument. If I played a woodwind instrument I would have to blow in it to make music, but string instruments are played with a bow to make music. After much thought, I decided that the violin was the best instrument for me, because it has a beautiful, unique sound, plus the possibilities are never-ending. I could receive a compliment from a teacher, or even get accepted to the symphony.

Hopkins, A. (2012). Protest and Rock n' Roll During the Vietnam War. Student Pulse, 4(11).

In Beyoncé’s song, “Pretty Hurts” and Christina Aguilera’s song, “Beautiful” are very similar songs. However there are some differences. In the song “Pretty Hurts” talks about how being pretty is not defined by what you wear or how you look. While “Beautiful” talks about how people feel bad about themselves. The intended audience are somewhat similar, the tone, the mood, and the purpose in both songs are similar.

Women today are expected to have a “thin, large-breasted, white (tanned, but not too brown) body” (Shaw and Lee 220) in order to be considered beautiful, but not all women have this kind of body type. By enforcing this “beauty” image our society is causing women to look at their bodies and focus on all of the “wrong” parts and how they “need” to change their bodies to fit in with the ideal “beauty.” Marni Grossman explains in her essay “Beating Anorexia and Gaining Feminism,” that she became anorexic, because she thought she was ugly. She didn’t look like all the other girls in school, “tall and tan and toned” and believed she would never be like them. So she thought “if I can’t be beautiful I will be thin. I’ll be the thinnest, in fact. I’ll be tiny and adorable and very, very good” (Grossman). She let society’s image of beauty affect her so much that she started to starve herself and purge. It wasn’t until she was older that she realized the only reason she was doing this was, because “they,” society had told her it was necessary in order to be seen as beautiful. Upon this realization Grossman took control of her life and began reaching out to other women and helping them see the truth. This is what Pink is trying to explain in her song, that women don’t need to let society’s image of “beauty” pressure them to change anything about their appearance. Women are beautiful because of their character

"Women face immense pressure from the media and entertainment to look a certain way, accomplish certain goals, and all around try to be “perfect.” My message is to share with women that every person is so uniquely talented, beautiful."

“Flawless”, a song sung by iconic pop-sensation Beyoncé, is a lyrical poem that worships her irrevocably perfect self. “U Can’t Touch This” by hip-hop legend MC Hammer created the idea that he was so incredible, no one could aspire to be as stellar as him. And the ultimate 70’s hit, “Tiny Dancer” made every woman wish she was the beautiful soul described by the world-renown pianist Elton John. These three influential celebrities are a general scope into the minds of a typical human being- thoughts consumed by this ideology of Perfection, a gap as big as canyons between the object and any defect or flaw. This same idea of man being “perfect” originated at the very first creation of man, as laid out in several combating belief systems.

I find myself in a constant state of appreciation. I worship hot coffee every morning and recently, every night. I keep in touch with my small group of friends hourly through texting or Skype, usually, and always make time to see them on the weekends. I remind myself to thank my parents for everything they’ve done for me, never taking my life or experiences for granted.

I’m writing about the lyric from Scars to your beautiful by Alessia Cara. It’s “beauty goes deeper than the surface”. I think that it’s a really important message to promote. Girls are constantly faced with a body standard from magazines to on television, there’s a certain way you have to look. The “perfect” body image is that you can’t be overweight.

I decided to analyze Beyoncé Knowles’ “Pretty Hurts”. This song was released in 2013 and was part of her album “Beyoncé”. In the beginning of the song we see the pageant host ask Beyoncé, who plays a contestant, what her aspirations are. She replies with, “ to be happy”. Her response is repeated throughout different shots during the music video, which tells us she is struggling. To me, this response is a cry for help. She is instigating that she is not happy with the person she is and that she is pretending to be someone she is not just to fit into a societal standard. The lyrics even state, “Perfection is the disease of a nation”. This music video signifies the reality of life and sets the mood to the fans and viewers.

Music is one of the greatest human creations (DeNora, 2000). It plays an integral role in human society worldwide irrelevant of race, gender, age, wealth or well-being (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005). Indeed according to Batt-Rawden (2010), playing different music in diverse situations can introduce listeners to the desired and relevant atmosphere. In most circumstances, music is played to entertain people, but it can also form part of an accompaniment in sad situations. Music is often the fulcrum that influences the listener by creating a unique ambience and atmosphere (Bernatzky, Presh, Anderson, & Panksepp, 2011). Chamorro-Premuzic and Furnham, (2007) adds that music can be a medium to enhance communication,

Pretty hurts by Beyoncé is a song. It talks about well "pretty hurts". It shows the things woman do for men and society. It gives an example to lift up girls and not to make them feel bad. For them to not feel insecure about there body and how they