A light in the face/Skin Gallery

Harvor focuses on theories which attempt to explain why some people are considered more attractive than others. In particular, he pays attention to the theories of evolutionary biology and evolutionary psychology. Harvor---in keeping with Val Dusek and Marvin Harris---sees evolutionary biology as an updated version of sociobiology. Although he allows a biological basis for certain kinds of behaviour, he disagrees with the idea that such factors can provide complete explanations. Furthermore, he sees evolutionary biology as inadvertently lending ammunition to those manufacturers of culture who claim that physical good looks are an end in and of themselves.;The academic component of his thesis, A Light in The Face: Looksism, Evolutionary Biology, and Culture, is divided into three parts: a critique of evolutionary biology, a critique of culture generally, and a critical examination of a work of literature which deals explicitly with the politics of beauty.;The creative component of his thesis, Skin Gallery, a novel, attempts to illustrate the ways in which the commercialization (and sexualization) of beauty in turn modify individual behaviour, and delimit individual choice. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).