Surface and Substance

There is a salient relationship between aesthetic pleasure and the individual. Virginia Postrel’s essay “Surface and Substance” argues that society must accept “that aesthetic pleasure is an autonomous good (Postrel 436).” Society as a whole must refrain from holding those with aesthetic preferences in low regards. Individual’s presentations of himself or herself define his or her own form, therefore expressing their character. The perceived significance of aesthetics and individualism indicates that we as a society are free. Individuality sets individuals apart, as well as different groups of people, races, and cultures. Postrel’s construction of surface in her essay “Surface and Substance” indeed promises individuality by annotating the term fashion and delivering real-life examples of individuality through the exterior and the positive significance it leaves on society.

Some may think that valuing aesthetics makes one shallow or uneducated. In fact, Postrel believes the opposite is quite true. In reality, the value of aesthetics to others may help define those lost in the crowd as his or her own individual with likes, dislikes, and an acquired personal taste. Appearance in hairstyle and clothing may help express emotion and interests. For instance, Betty (a pessimist) woke up late for work, stubbed her toe, and spilled coffee on her outfit. Her next choice in apparel may be black and her hair and make-up may be careless, thus indicating her dark dreadful mood held throughout the course of the day. Betty is blatantly exhibiting her bad mood to her co-workers through her outward appearance and demeanor. Similarly, aesthetics may help some express their cultural differences, ethnic background, and sense of taste. For example, Sally is an American Indian and is very spirited about her ethnicity inasmuch that she enjoys wearing moccasins and leather vests indicating her ancestral tribe. She, indeed, is displaying her sense of self and individuality through her unique fashion. As individuals, we should express ourselves any which way we can to remain riveting, “Cherish forever what makes you unique, ‘cuz you’re really a yawn if it goes (Bette Midler).” Those with individuality should indeed flaunt it rather than camouflage it. What makes us unique keeps us interesting to others and more often desirable to associate with.

Similarly, Postrel deduces that surface is crucial in first impressions. How one displays them self informs the other of exactly how much they respect his or her self, what genre of music they enjoy, and how practical the person actually is. For example, a 17-year-old boy walks into the classroom with a green Mohawk, safety pinned pants, and tattooed arms. Using our ultimate stereotypical minds that society has granted us we can infer that he is into punk music. If a girl walks in with a sweater tied around her neck, a tennis skirt on, and barrettes in her well-combed hair, we may come to the preconceived notion that she is prim, proper, and high-class. However, though this may seem stereotypical, it is a blunt form of individuality. These two individuals are displaying their preferences and perhaps a window into their inner lives by the use of extreme appearance, aesthetics, hairstyle, and demeanor. This is yet another example that confirms aesthetics directly execute individuality among people in today’s society and present’s each as different from the other.

Character can be defined as the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing. Postrel states that the character of an individual is formed through the perception of themselves unto others. It can be calculated by adding appearance, self-satisfaction, background, and unique qualities together. How we appear to others displays our character to them- whether accurately or not. “…fashion’s demands [are] not moral character but a combination of self-awareness, confidence, taste, and affiliation. How we deal with fashion’s flux suggests something about our inner life (Postrel 436).” The way we as a person take on our perception of what is in fashion displays not only what we appreciate but also what we may be living through each day. Postrel is inferring that how we as people handle fashion’s ever-changing habits and the way we perceive the change is displayed through our outward appearance and states something about our inward