The modern world increasingly gazes only at glittering surfaces, where external shine and aesthetics become the measure of correctness and success, overshadowing true depth.

Glamour or Substance: Rediscovering What Truly Matters

The modern world increasingly gazes only at glittering surfaces, where external shine and aesthetics become the measure of correctness and success, overshadowing true depth. In this kaleidoscope of visual packaging images, festive sumptuous glamour, and fleeting effects, it is easy to forget that behind the shimmering facade lie moments of real humanity—rich in morals, spirituality, and historical memory. Against the backdrop of state pomp, where the past is gradually pushed into the shadows, modern culture compels us to reconsider what truly matters. Despite the apparent absoluteness of external beauty, we must not lose sight of the profound substance that outweighs mere aesthetic appeal. Let us remember: behind every glittering exterior lies a multifaceted reality in which true values—sincere integrity, morality, and the living historical experience—remain indispensable guides.

How do glamour and external attractiveness affect our perception of life and true values?

Glamour and an emphasis on external attractiveness significantly transform how we perceive life and evaluate genuine values, shifting the focus from deep content to superficial attributes. On one hand, beauty is often seen as an absolute benchmark—it becomes the criterion for the rightness of actions and the authenticity of our aspirations. For instance, one source emphasizes that “beauty is an absolute thing. No one can say that the 'Holy Trinity' painted by Andrei Rublev is unsightly. No one can say that the sky is ugly or that the Amur tiger is not beautiful, or that the Machaon butterfly, or the peacock’s eye is unattractive. … And if it were ugly, then it would be ungodly…,” indicating that the external aesthetic appearance is perceived as a reflection of something higher and beyond the reach of everyday hustle (source: link txt).

On the other hand, glamour—especially in mass culture and official celebrations—creates a new model for perceiving reality. As noted in another excerpt, “Today, there are almost none left, the old veterans. … And state-festive glamour—it sounds ever more bronze-colored, ever more alarming. … There is less talk of that Victory, and increasingly more of current achievements,” which shows how the external effects and shine of official events can overshadow deeper historical and cultural meanings, replacing true values with a shimmering, superficial allure (source: link txt).

Moreover, modern packaging and visual design in the realm of consumption also affect our perception. For example, it is emphasized that “what a huge importance the wrapping, the box, the bottle now have! Every item in the modern world goes through a complex process of ‘presentation’,” suggesting that a product’s external appeal often becomes more significant than its inner content (source: link txt).

Thus, the cult of appearance and glamour that saturates modern cultural and consumer practices leads us to evaluate the world through the lens of visual and superficial characteristics. This tendency, on one hand, imparts aesthetic significance and may even point to a higher ideal of beauty, but on the other, it shifts attention away from the deeper human values—morality, spirituality, and historical memory—toward the glittering and ephemeral attractiveness of the exterior.

Supporting citation(s):
“But beauty is absolute. No one can say that the 'Holy Trinity' painted by Andrei Rublev is ugly. No one can say that the sky is not beautiful or that the Amur tiger is not beautiful, or that the Machaon butterfly, or the peacock’s eye is unattractive. Is there any person in the world who, upon seeing this butterfly, would say: it is not beautiful? No, because everyone is completely captivated by the beauty created by God. Therefore, beauty can become the criterion for the truth of our lives. Each of us always has many questions in our soul, in our mind: what should I do? How should I act? What should I say? And we can make beauty our criterion. So if you want to do something—think for a moment: is it beautiful? And if it is not, then it will be ungodly, because that which has even the slightest touch of God is always beauty. Unfortunately, in our sinfulness, we often mistake mere prettiness for true beauty. We are soulful and carnal, not solely spiritual; therefore, we often do not see or feel spiritual beauty, and due to our sensual nature, we love emotional beauty.” (source: link txt)

“Today, there are almost none left, the old veterans. And even fewer among us are children from the war era, those who once lit lighters on rooftops, shared their food rations, and awaited funerals… And state-festive glamour—it sounds ever more bronze-colored, ever more alarming. There is less talk of that Victory, and more about current achievements. Parades on Red Square featuring the latest military technology seem like an attempt to convince ourselves that everything is now in order, that there will never be another ‘41.’ Yet it was also on May Day ‘41’ that the latest technology of that time was showcased on Red Square… And now this glamour is not balanced by conversations in third-class train compartments, and in general, people have lost the internal filter of Soviet times, when everything emanating from official sources was discussed in kitchens in a completely different light. But what remains is the memory that that war was not suited for glamour, that it was not only a time of the mass heroism of the Soviet people, but also one laden with dirt and blood. We are not ready to accept the glossy official picture.” (source: link txt)