Exploring the Fascination with Ugliness: A Deep Dive by Moshtari Hilal

Afghanistan-born author and artist Moshtari Hilal delves into the complex interplay between power, hate, and dehumanization in her debut book, Ugliness. Published by New Vessel Press, Elisabeth Lauffer's translation of Hilal's German original, Hässlichkeit, confronts societal norms governing bodily appearance and their impact on marginalized groups, especially women and people of color.

In Ugliness, Hilal argues that ugliness serves as a mechanism for projecting and exerting power over bodies deemed undesirable. By exploring personal and collective histories of exclusion and violence, she reveals how bodies become sites of dehumanization. The author invites readers to confront their fears and projections to disrupt this cycle and rethink how bodies are seen and valued.

The novel combines various literary elements, including memoir, history, theory, poetry, and drawing, to crisscross topics such as the beauty salons of Kabul, the American industry of putting makeup on dead people, the antisemitic history of Western nose aesthetics, and the body pressures that affected the author's upbringing in Germany. Influenced by disability justice activist and writer Mia Mingus, whose questions about why we are afraid of ugliness and what we can learn from it sparked the author's investigation, Ugliness challenges readers to confront the role of power, hate, and dehumanization in their own lives.

Through autobiographical reflections and cultural critique, Hilal illustrates how power structures manifest on bodies, creating "enemy territories" within them – zones marked by shame and hate that people are compelled to "correct" or distance from. The author's own art, much of which deals with the body, is integrated into the book as a visual commentary on the construction of images and the contexts in which they are created.

Many have questioned the authenticity of Hilal's perspective, claiming that she is not ugly enough to write a critical book about ugliness. In response, the author emphasizes her participation in certain beauty rituals and experiences growing up, including teenage episodes of imitating and assimilating. The self-portraits in the book help demonstrate how one's perception of oneself can be distorted by self-hate, but ugliness is not solely about the physical reality – it is also a question of perception and the roles one feels compelled to play in society.

Ugliness, according to Hilal, plays a crucial role in legitimate systems of exclusion, exploitation, and discrimination. The book provokes readers to grapple with the artificial scarcity of resources, care, and rights and consider the need for an anti-capitalistic system that does not rely on beauty and ugliness as tools of power.

Ugliness is now available from New Vessel Press.

Science has yet to provide a concrete definition of what constitutes ugliness, but Afghanistan-born author and artist Moshtari Hilal attempts to delve into its complexities in her debut book, Ugliness.
Ugliness challenges societal norms governing bodily appearance and their impact on marginalized groups, especially women and people of color.
Hilal argues that ugliness serves as a mechanism for projecting and exerting power over bodies deemed undesirable.
By exploring personal and collective histories of exclusion and violence, Ugliness reveals how bodies become sites of dehumanization.
The novel invites readers to confront their fears and projections to disrupt this cycle and rethink how bodies are seen and valued.
Ugliness combines various literary elements, including memoir, history, theory, poetry, and drawing, to crisscross topics such as beauty salons of Kabul, Western nose aesthetics, and body pressures.
Influenced by disability justice activist and writer Mia Mingus, Ugliness challenges readers to confront the role of power, hate, and dehumanization in their own lives.
Through autobiographical reflections and cultural critique, Ugliness illustrates how power structures manifest on bodies, creating "enemy territories" within them.
Many have questioned the authenticity of Hilal's perspective, claiming that she is not ugly enough to write a critical book about ugliness.
Hilal emphasizes her participation in certain beauty rituals and experiences growing up to refute such claims.
The self-portraits in the book help demonstrate how one's perception of oneself can be distorted by self-hate.
Ugliness is not solely about the physical reality – it is also a question of perception and the roles one feels compelled to play in society.
Ugliness provokes readers to grapple with the artificial scarcity of resources, care, and rights.
The author invites readers to consider the need for an anti-capitalistic system that does not rely on beauty and ugliness as tools of power.
Ugliness is now available from New Vessel Press, offering readers an opportunity to dive into the complex interplay between power, hate, and dehumanization.
Workplace wellness programs could benefit from the insights presented in Ugliness to foster a more inclusive and accepting environment.
The impact of ugliness on mental health is an important aspect to consider when assessing the effects of exclusion and discrimination.
Mental health professionals could integrate themes from Ugliness into their therapies and treatments to help clients gain a deeper understanding of self-perception and societal expectations.
Men's health is often overlooked, but Ugliness provides valuable insights into the role of power, hate, and dehumanization in the lives of men, prompting conversation around these issues.
Ugliness sheds light on the importance of addressing racial and gender biases in the medical field, as medical condition diagnoses and treatment plans may be influenced by perceptions of ugliness.
Chronic diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on an individual's self-perception and sense of well-being, and Ugliness offers valuable perspectives on this complex interplay.
healthy-diets and skin-care routines can play a role in nurturing a positive self-image, but Ugliness warns readers about the potential pitfalls of over-emphasizing physical beauty.
Fitness and exercise can provide a means of connecting with a supportive community and boosting self-esteem, but Ugliness encourages readers to consider the influence of power structures in our personal fitness journeys.
Sexual health is a crucial aspect of overall health and wellness, and Ugliness offers insights into the role of power, hate, and dehumanization in shaping our sexual behaviors and perceptions.
Ugliness can manifest in various aspects of family life, such as parenting and communication patterns, and Ugliness offers perspectives on how to create healthier, more loving home environments.
Entrepreneurship and leadership positions can be impacted by perceptions of ugliness, as individuals may feel compelled to conform to societal expectations to appear successful.
Diversity and inclusion are essential for fostering a thriving small business, and Ugliness serves as a reminder to challenge our biases and create more equitable environments.
Wealth management and financial planning can be influenced by our perceptions of ugliness, and Ugliness encourages readers to break free from these limiting beliefs and make informed investment decisions.