Kiki and the Image of Beauty

The idea of beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Yet even that can be distorted by what is seen as socially preferable. I have met a man who was attracted to a woman, but over time because of social pressure he distanced himself from her and convinced himself she was unattractive. If left to his own devices he could have stayed with her, but the pressure from those around him to find a woman who more closely fits the "supermodel" look was too strong. That is kind of what I thought of with Kiki and Howard. Over time, as her beauty changed, Howard had been socialized and was pressured to be with a woman who was stereotypically beautiful. By some Kiki could be seen as having "let herself go." However this few is unfair and unnecessary. Kiki is required by no one to set herself up by a standard of social beauty. The standard of beauty that should matter to her is whether she is happy within her own skin. It is up to Howard to support her support of herself, something he fails at miserably. His affair only confirms the fact that he does not support her sense of beauty in herself, without any words being spoken.

Yet the stereotypes of female beauty are different depending on the society. During the Middle Ages in parts of Europe is was preferable that a woman be thicker and heavier. It was seen as attractive and a woman who had more curves was the epitome of beauty.

Howard is almost too arrogant in his condescending attitude toward Kiki. He treats her with a slight amount of lovable disdain. Howard acts so far above everyone else's ideas and morals. He sneers at the idea of 'genius', more 'bardolatry'. It is that disdain of what true genius and beauty can be that is Howard's downfall. He cannot see how beautiful his wife is just as he cannot see how beautiful the genius of the art he studies is!

Beauty, culture, and intellect in the case of Claire vs. Kiki?

Claire is the more stereotypically beautiful woman. she is fit, tan, white, highly intellectual compared to Kiki who is larger, black, less educated. They definitely represent opposites of each other. Aside from physical beauty, they also are socially intellectually different. Though they may both be smart women, Claire has a higher educational qualification.
Yet they are both objectified by Howard!