How to Be a Renaissance Woman
The Untold History of Beauty & Female Creativity
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15
The Untold History of Beauty & Female Creativity
Ratings1
Average rating4
An alternative history of the Renaissance—as seen through the emerging literature of beauty tips—focusing on the actresses, authors, and courtesans who rebelled against the misogyny of their era. Beauty, make-up, art, power: How to Be a Renaissance Woman presents an alternative history of this fascinating period as told by the women behind the paintings, providing a window into their often overlooked or silenced lives. Can the pressures women feel to look good be traced back to the sixteenth century? As the Renaissance visual world became populated by female nudes from the likes of Michelangelo and Titian, a vibrant literary scene of beauty tips emerged, fueling debates about cosmetics and adornment. Telling the stories of courtesans, artists, actresses, and writers rebelling against the strictures of their time, when burgeoning colonialism gave rise to increasingly sinister evaluations of bodies and skin color, this book puts beauty culture into the frame. How to Be a Renaissance Woman will take readers from bustling Italian market squares, the places where the poorest women and immigrant communities influenced cosmetic products and practices, to the highest echelons of Renaissance society, where beauty could be a powerful weapon in securing strategic marriages and family alliances. It will investigate how skin-whitening practices shifted in step with the emerging sub-Saharan African slave trade, how fads for fattening and thinning diets came and went, and how hairstyles and fashion could be a tool for dissent and rebellion—then as now. This surprising and illuminating narrative will make you question your ideas about your own body, and ask: Why are women often so critical of their appearance? What do we stand to lose, but also to gain, from beauty culture? What is the relationship between looks and power?
Reviews with the most likes.
Jill Burke's new book How to Be a Renaissance Woman is a refreshing and inspirational read for modern women looking to expand their horizons. Burke seamlessly weaves historical context, personal anecdotes, and practical advice into an engaging narrative that makes you want to become the strong, skilled, and well-rounded woman she describes.
The book explores the original Renaissance ideal of cultivating multiple talents and abilities. Burke argues convincingly that women today can benefit from adopting this mindset by developing a diverse set of interests and skills. From learning foreign languages, to picking up new hobbies like gardening or knitting, to honing skills like public speaking and critical thinking, Burke provides specific, actionable tips for how women can stretch themselves mentally and creatively.
I found the historical research into actual Renaissance women fascinating. Getting a glimpse into how creative and multi-faceted these women were provided me with an aspirational vision. I finished the book feeling inspired about all the different areas of my life I could work to improve.
The prose is witty and erudite, just like the Renaissance women Burke brings to life through her writing. This book is equal parts entertaining and empowering. If you're a woman looking to expand your mind, skills, and experiences, I couldn't recommend How to Be a Renaissance Woman more highly. It's a guide that will exhilarate, inspire, and challenge you.
