Joan Of Arc Research Paper

As she sat and watched the make up artists smearing powders and creams of strange colors on the women’s faces, Joan of Arc was perturbed at the atmosphere she was thrusted into. There were so many curious things happening all at the same time. Some women were standing in front of some kind of machine with flashing lights. They were posed in such ways so that they looked frail, weak, and in poor health. Some women looked like they hadn’t eaten anything in weeks. Joan asked the man nearest her what these poor women were doing. “This is a photo shoot,” the man replied, “don’t they look beautiful?” Beautiful? Joan of Arc was astonished at the way beauty was portrayed by these people! Beauty to her was not being so skinny that your bones were seen through your skin. It was strength. Beauty to her was standing tall and being an example of courage and power. She walked out of the

The cameras stopped flashing, the models stopped posing, and the make up artists put down their brushes. “My name is Joan of Arc. I fought in the Hundred Years’ War in France from 1429 to 1431 while leading the French army to victory over the British. I was burned at the stake at the young age of 19. My people later made me a national symbol of France, and canonized me in 1920. I am referred to in many cultures as beautiful. Not because I pretend to be someone I’m not, but because I proudly represent my values and beliefs without fear. I urge each of you to reconsider your definition of beauty. Instead of casting yourselves as weak inferiors, set a shining example of independence and strength.” She looked over the crowd of women and saw them glance at each other not really knowing what to do or say. Some women started to cry, some women scoffed and walked away towards the flashing lights and make up artists, and some women stood there looking at the ground. There was only one woman that actually approached Joan of