Moths & Butterflies: A Representation of Societal Beauty Standards

Why do we view butterflies as beautiful but moths as pests?

While moths and butterflies are related through their classification as species within the Lepidoptera group, the responses they engender from humanity differ due to their appearance. Moths are typically regarded with negative connotations of disgust due to their dark and ominous appearance. In contrast, the bright variegated coloration in butterflies is often associated with nostalgic feelings of happiness and remind us of our fondness for flowers. Our bias towards their appearances extend to their meanings in symbolism: moths represent death while butterflies represent hope and rebirth.

This portfolio serves as a progressional development and documentation for my AP Art sustained investigation: I am exploring the impact of external beauty standards on self-perception through the contrast between moths and butterflies. Similar to how we perceive moths and butterflies, beauty standards are ever so prevalent in shaping how we view ourselves.