Survival of the Prettiest
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Margery Simkin
Karen Taylor
Trish Mcdermott
Walter Hodgson
Elizabeth Sporkin
Andrew Weil
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Throughout history, humans have idolized beauty, an engaging yet subjective human quality. When asked to define beauty, people invariably falter. However, people can recognize beauty instantly when someone who embodies it walks into a room. In her book, "Survival of the Prettiest -- The Science of Beauty," author Nancy Etcoff, a practicing psychologist and professor at Harvard Medical School, suggests that perhaps all of the piercing, plucking and painting that humans have performed on themselves for centuries in the quest for beauty is biologically driven. Etcoff theorizes that beauty confers privilege, popularity and unearned advantages on those who've won the genetic jackpot -- from the schoolyard to the halls of Congress. The program, backed by numerous scientific studies, examines Etcoff's theory and puts it to the test, with hidden camera experiments and interviews with Etcoff, leading psychologists, casting agents, makeup artists, fashion designers and cosmetic surgeons.
