This past summer the lions at the Milwaukee county zoo had three cubs. Every time I visit the exhibit, I can’t help simile and say “aaaww, how cute!” The cub lions are adorable with their big eyes, big paws and small furry bodies. Harris on “Cute, Quaint, Hungry and Romantic” says that the big eyes and furry bodies are needed for the cute factor. For example, all animals reproduced as “stuffed animals,” have the furry material for the structure of the bodies, even if they are animals with fur or not.(See turtle below)
[Jan. 28th, 2012, http://www.bbtoystore.com/store/FPL_CS5_bigeyeturtleG.html]
Another ingredient needed for an animal to be cute is that it needs to be clean (it doesn’t poop or have any bodily fluids). I believe part of the reason we respond to the big eyes and small bodies is because we want to nurture and help others. However, I do truly think that if an actual animal or toy with big eyes and small body was covered with unknown fluids, my respond would be that of anti-cute – “yuck!”
