EP - 113- Harmonizing Your Face: The Dark History of Symmetry
Facial 'harmonizing' is the latest beauty buzz flooding TikTok and Instagram, but is it really just harmless fun?
In this episode, I dig into the strange science, cultural history, and hidden baggage behind our obsession with symmetry. From Renaissance art to social media filters, discover why the idea of a 'perfectly balanced face' isn't as innocent as it seems.
Buckle up, this one's going to make you look at beauty trends a little differently.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Naomi Wolf — The Beauty Myth (1990)
Petrus Camper — Facial Angles (1791, posthumous publication)
Cesare Lombroso — L'Uomo Delinquente (Criminal Man) (1876)
Moshtari Hilal — Ugliness (New Vessel Press, 2022, English ed.)
Aditya Gulati et al. — “What is Beautiful is Still Good: The Attractiveness Halo Effect in the Era of Beauty Filters” (Royal Society Open Science, 2024)
Julian De Silva — “Scientific formula proves why these 10 supermodels are the most beautiful” (New York Post, 2025)
M Cosmetic Surgery — “What is the Golden Ratio of Facial Aesthetics?” (Clinic publication, 2024)
Usha Rajagopal, MD — Clinic statements on facial harmony (San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, 2023)
Jessica DeFino — “People Are ‘Harmonizing’ Their Faces. Why?” (FLESH WORLD Substack, 2025)
Psychology Today — Articles on beauty standards, filters, and body image
(2023–2025)
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Apple Podcast:
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Spotify Podcast:
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