Black people Quote by Neal Stephenson
““The example cited most often was a gradual change in eye color among Moirans. Eve Moira’s eyes had been hazel: relatively light in color by the standards of black people, but not all that unusual. By the end of the Second Millennium, many Moirans had eyes so pale in color as to appear golden in strong light. On the walls of the Great Chain’s fashion stores, blown up to ten times life size, Moiran fashion models still gazed at you through shockingly yellow, catlike eyes. Because pale eyes had been a distinctive characteristic of Eve Moira, it had become thought of as beautiful and desirable, and Moirans with pale eyes had found it easier to mate and reproduce, intensifying the trait over time, to the point of caricature. Kath Two herself, no model, was frequently complimented on the lightness of her eyes, which were closer to green than yellow. But modern, appearance-conscious Moirans were frequently startled when they saw photographs of their Eve with her eyes that were merely greenish-brown.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Rise and Fall of the Great Chain, 2023
A cultural trait became exaggerated through selective preference, turning a natural variation into an extreme ideal.
In simple terms: Selective breeding amplified a trait to a caricature.
Beware of idealizing traits without recognizing natural diversity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- fashion industry
- media representation
- genetic selection
- social norms
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do media standards shape genetic preferences?
- What are the risks of amplifying minor traits?
Idealization can lead to loss of authentic variation and potential health issues.