Aww, who could resist those faces?

That's really interesting... Who doesn't love something cute? But I never thought to analyze that reaction, or the trend of cuteness in our culture.

Psshh.. cute is much older than 10 years! George Lucas invented it in 1983 (Ewoks)

my exboyfriend always used to tell me how cuuuuute i was, like a little kitty, i think it was his way of disarming me, or reminding me that i was just a play thing with no important opinions. this article is almost a "duh", only no one ever put it all that way. *sshole men dismissing something a woman says (even anyone dismissing a child's opinion) by just thinking, "she's so cute, look shes getting mad!" is a pretty good example.

I think there's some truth to this.

It always angered me when pictures of animals/kids falling or slamming into things were included in cute or funny videos, like America's funniest. I would complain every time, and no one but my mother has ever agreed with me.

I have to agree with what plasticine said. I've had an ex say the same thing...Then again I tend to know a lot of people who have done that sort of thing.

I believe there's some truth to this as well.

I agree with some of what this paper posits. I have never found manipulated set-ups cute (ex: the kittens in the photo, poking babies in high-chairs, etc). However, I see nothing wrong with equating inherent innocence with sweetness (and ultimately cuteness). Babies and puppies will always be cute and I see nothing wrong with that. Manufactured cuteness is the only issue. Case in point: Kawaii culture - it is downright disturbing.

I think my favorite part was how the "cult of cute" that goes back at least to Shirley Temple and early Disney cartoons and which came over from Japan after the occupation is still somehow George W. Bush's fault. Neat trick.

Mermei — the writer's argument is that in dark times, the cult of cute has emerged in response to a specific set of cultural/political circumstances. It happened during the Depression, and he claims it came back again in a different form during the Bush years and continues to linger.

This answers so many questions I've had about this; thanks for summing it up so well. I am fascinating by analytic takes on seemingly frivolous things.

I can't believe someone else has this book I got it last year at B&N.

Tres - he says that cuteness and misery are linked, something you can see through the example of postwar Japan. But he also suggests that the cuteness of the 30s was balanced by Shirley Temple, of the 50s Disney era was balanced by the culture of cool (Elvis and James Dean). So this is somehow a new and far more pronounced form of cuteness, one reason for which is the changes brought by Bush. To that, I say "bah humbug." Cuteness has always been there in modern times, and always counterbalanced. I find the rise of the internet and social networking, YouTube, etc. to be far more convincing than the misery of the Bush years as an explanation for why cuteness is so prevalent today.

I'm sorry, the cuteness of Shirley Temple was balanced by screwball comedies. Typing too quickly, failing to proofread....

human babies have to be cute, otherwise their mothers will abandon them in favor of kawaii cell phone charms

Yes, I can agree that sometimes "cute" is used to disarm things, but its only a "sometimes", not always. If you condemn cute, then you're saying that people are sadists for enjoying pictures of babys and kittens doing silly things. Cuteness, curiosity, surprise, love; all these things we see in babies and animals are not just because of some sadistic streak society has.

"The misery of the Bush years"? Someone's projecting their own political opinions to hilarious effect.

It is always entertaining to see how far someone will go to make a point. While attacking cuteness this writer then used it as his own tool. How does misused puppies and kittens suddenly explain Kawaii culture?

Devils advocate...I really REALLY dislike overly cute and syrupy sweet goo-goo-gaga stuff. I am a girly-girl but that doesn't automatically make me a "Hello Kitty for president" committee chairmen either.

I look at this and think "Interesting--Intriguing" and then remember some idiot saying increased ice cream sales predicts sexual attacks. It is a nasty side effect and no indicator at all. So......cuteness is inherently sadistic?

Nawww....it can't be.