Originally Posted by
Cyke
i agree about Enterprise and its handling of T'Pol, but Rule 34 has been a thing for quite some time (especially with film but moreso with the internet).
If we're going with base instincts, then that's not necessarily correct, either. For example, the colorful plumage on various birds are for attracting mates. Same for elaborate courtship displays on thr animal kingdom -- and these displays are taught, practiced, or even augmented with various tools and items for added appearance. Any advantage to be chosen over a rival.
For humans, a well-defined or "fit" body denotes discipline and strength, while other elements like make up and hair appeal to what's pleasing or not. Then again, an less defined body could denote to the attracted a different and more preferred lifestyle. An elegant person would exude refinement and practice, whereas a more casual person would emote a more relaxed, perhaps even more carefree personality. that's all okay because that's up to the attracted -- IDIC. Fashion (whether supermodel fashions or traditional cultural/ancestral garb) are made with the sake of attracting the eye towards beauty, attraction, same interests and finding a mate or finding the potential of what a good mate could look like. Elegance was highlighted as appealing and sexy in the 17th and 19th centuries -- contrary to much pop culture, elegant people did indeed propogate -- because of class and power, things to be desired.
And even earlier than that around the globe, rulers and wealthy families would often choose mates for the sake of political power (the joining of houses , for example) but the courtship process and candidates would often be dressed up to heighten their appeal and thus be chosen by said-ruler over the competition -- that is, appearance to sexually attract a powerful leader was quite common to attain power and pass the bloodline -- appearance directly led to propogation at a political and social level.
On a side, we should note that Vulcans aren't devoid of emotion, they merely suppress with immense discipline. But even in TOS we've seen them moved by beauty (whether it's a cosmic anomaly or Spock complimenting a woman), so they know beauty when they see it -- bit it's also very likely that they have their own definitions of beauty. After all, they have their own cultural aesthetics and their own art forms, too, and those require emotions.