Lesson 1: Perfection

In groups You all have a selection of sentences Arrange these in a list that shows which you think are most important-least important qualities that you look for that make someone attractive to you Can you agree on the order? What do you think is important – be honest, don’t say what you think is the ‘correct’ answer, put them in the order that represents your opinions

Watch the video and listen to the lyrics

Reflecting on the song’s message In what ways does Beyoncé show/ sing about beauty being painful? Why does she use Beauty Contests as the backdrop for the video? How does it support the messages she is delivering? What other situation/location could she have used other than Beauty Contests as a backdrop for the video that would have had a similar effect on helping her message?

Is this just a ‘female’ concern? Body building – most commonly associated with men, but not exclusively so - exerts pressures regarding conformity to an image ideal What are the things that a body builder may have to go through to achieve ‘perfection’ in their field?

Pretty Hurts ‘Mama said, you’re a pretty girl, what’s in your head, it doesn’t matter’ What’s negative/ positive about this statement? Is ‘Mama’ a bad mother based on what she says to the child/ Beyoncé? Is it wrong to aspire to be ‘beautiful’?

Pretty Hurts ‘Perfection is a disease’ – what does she mean by this? ‘It’s the soul that needs surgery’ – what does she mean by this? In what way could we accuse Beyoncé of being hypocritical with the song and video?