For centuries, artists have tried to convey emotions through the portrait of another. Based on the portrait’s features, any viewer can look at the picture and feel that emotion racing through their veins. While an artist will use colors to emphasize a particular emotion, a practiced eye can still pick up on the emotions of an actual person. Of course, the person’s entire body conspires to reveal his emotions, but just his face will sell himself out.
As a young man reaches his arm around the waist of the nearest woman, it is her ruby lips that cause his hand to pull away. Here, it is partially the tension that sets her lips a straight line that sends his hand spiraling back to his side. Her lips could’ve just as easily settled into a soft smile, allowing him to place his hand upon her hip. It’s all hanging on the amount of tension that draws the lips into a straight line. The more tension in her lips, the straighter the line they make, and the greater the amount of displeasure that pulses through her thoughts. Similar to the lips, the jaw also fluctuates based on tension. The strain caused when the jaw is clasped shut is usually sudden, making it an easy feature to pick up on. This sudden rigidity, the swift clasp of her teeth, could have sent the message just as clearly. Maybe it was the slight pout caused by her jaw sliding forward, clearly displaying her urge to whip around and slap his arm away. The jaw is a mark of tension or anger or, in some cases, reluctance. All of these slight motions would have sent her disapproval careening in his direction. Taking account of these simple details can lead to understanding pieces of the person’s thoughts or emotions.
Just as the lips and jaws lock into a setting, spilling all of her secrets, the tilt of her head tells just as much. In confusion, she’ll tilt her head to the left; it’s always left. In reaction to her question, he’ll tilt his chin up slightly. Even though it demonstrates how easily he’ll get defensive, it’s his way of looking down on her. It’s an attempt to make the other person seem small, hopefully causing her to back down. More lucidly, this shift is a method of self defense, portraying something powerful when it’s not there. Her reaction, another message sent through the tilt of a head, is less subtle. She drops her head forward, feeling both upset and disappointed. Here, the tilts of their heads divulge confusion, a defensive manner, and a hurt flow of emotions. Learning to recognize these shifts can lead to a better understanding of a single person or people in general.
The tilt of a head, the setting of the lips, and the position of a jaw send messages to those willing to receive them. Whether it is aimed at an artist or a random stranger, the features are still set in place in order to provide some type of communication. It is up to the receiver to decide how the knowledge is used, either opening the Golden Gates or unleashing Pandora’s Box.
word count: 532
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A Head Full Of Hints
Posted by m.vincent at 8:42 PM
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4 comments:
Morgan, I enjoyed reading your blog but I was a little confused with your introduction. Also, you forgot to put a word count at the end of your essay. Besides that, your blog was very interesting and fun to read.
Hey. Your blog is really interesting; nothing I would've ever thought to write about. I like the way you use detail and your vocabulary is really good too. I think that you could put a little more opinion in though because I feel that you're just listing facts but otherwise it's really well written. Good job!
Morgan-
Your blogs are always very interesting to read. There is a lot of supporting detail and concrete evidence to support the theories that you discuss. I think your essays could use a little more personality. The essay is a little too formal but if you add more commentary (you began to when you were talking about the man putting his arm around a woman's waist) your essay will be even better.
"Based on the portrait’s features, any viewer can look at the picture and feel that emotion racing through their veins." Whose veins? The viewer or the artist?
Are these connected ideas?: "While an artist will use colors to emphasize a particular emotion, a practiced eye can still pick up on the emotions of an actual person." You're using the portraiture metaphor, but you don't have a clear transition to when you're done using it. That's why the above section doesn't quite work. Fix your opening paragraph, and make it more obvious that you're leaving the portraiture metaphor behind and examining facial expressions of real, living people.
As you transition to your example, make it clear that it is an example of behavior.
Does your last line have a double meaning? (Yes) Did you write it with that in mind? (Hmmmm...)
Answer--where does your fascination with body language come from?
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