Exploring Perception In 'The Eye Of The Beholder'

1467 Words3 Pages

Hans Jhamb Mrs. Rush English 8/Period 5 6 March 2024 Exploring Perception in "The Eye of the Beholder" Enter a dimension in which the only boundaries are that of imagination, where nothing is as it seems, and every word hides a message. The Twilight Zone, created by Rod Serling, was a groundbreaking television show that has influenced countless shows and movies since its creation. When it premiered in 1959, The Twilight Zone was the only sci-fi show of its kind. Each episode carried the audience to another dimension beyond anything they could imagine. Rod Serling uses “The Eye of the Beholder” to explore complex messages about the effects of beauty standards on society. “The Eye of the Beholder” is an episode of The Twilight Zone in which …show more content…

This difference in beauty standards shows the effect society has on one’s perception of beauty. The audience is left wondering about the importance of conformity and individuality in society. Janet Tyler’s struggle for conformity highlights the tension between conformity and individuality in society. In the episode, Rod Serling also addresses how beauty standards can create a struggle between individuality and conformity. The leader in the episode addresses the nation, “We must cut out all that is different, like cancerous growth! It is essential in this society that we not only have a norm, but that we conform to that norm” (Serling 20:06 - 20:19). The leader comparing individuality to cancerous growth shows a communist style of leadership in which conformity is preached. The pressure from societal leadership to cut out all that is different stifles societal diversity and individuality. This can be seen with Janet Tyler as the state is trying to stifle her individuality and force her to conform to societal standards. The extremity of this conformity is resemblant to Nazi Germany in which Jewish people were treated like Janet Tyler because they were different from the societal

Open Document