Is smiling a cultural phenomenon?

It seems like during earlier american history people had more stern no nonsense looks on their faces. Now days everyone has a goofy ass plastic smile on their face. I know everyone smiles. I do it too. Is it due to quality of life, or sqewed view of past & present perceptions? Do u think people are actually more happy than the used 2 be?

Posted by TheRabbit

It's because early cameras took several seconds to actually take the picture, so people needed to have expressions on their faces they could hold still for a more extended exposure period.

So easy to blame the technology. I've seen modern Americans hold a smile for longer than 5 minutes straight without blinking

Posted by Jade_Alexander

There are victorian pics of people smiling but it wasn’t the social norm for photographs

Exactly. Is it just a cultural norm people adopted to feel like they are being more progressive & enthusiastic about life? I wonder what time period this started changing? I know people smiled throughout time, it just wasnt as prevalent.

I speed by cops daily, make eye contact, and smile. Going 80+ in a 65. I think smiling is good.

Posted by Notmyrealname

No it really was technology. It used to take 15 minutes to take a photo and because it was such a rarity to have a photograph taken it was a whole event and there was etiquette naturally surrounding it for those reasons.

Apparently the exposure time thing is part of it, but it's more myth according to this article.

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/time/4568032/smile-serious-old-photos

Experts say that the deeper reason for the lack of smiles early on is that photography took guidance from pre-existing customs in painting—an art form in which many found grins uncouth and inappropriate for portraiture. Though saints might be depicted with faint smiles, wider smiles were “associated with madness, lewdness, loudness, drunkenness, all sorts of states of being that were not particularly decorous,” says Trumble.

Posted by Redbull

You look at old black and white pictures and its rare to see anybody smiling. Now its like Im feeling awesome and that can come through in a pic.

So ur saying those old guys in black & white photos weren't feeling awesome lol

Posted by Dianna

People didn't smile in early photos because they didn't want to look like an imbecile. Smiling was for the simple folk.

It's funny but I have read that hundreds of times.

So what changed? When did the change happen from stone faced to clown face

Posted by Black-Mamba

I feel the English should stop opening their mouth

Their teeth are horrific

Every race has fucked up teeth.

"It seems like during earlier american history people had more stern no nonsense looks on their faces. "

Probably pissed at a low charge on their cracked cell phones.

it's 100% cultural. For example native americans rarely smiled, even to this day native peruvians for exampe don't smile a lot. Same for chinese and japanese, but they've been catching up with the fake ass smiles since we've been in the television era.

Europeans and earlier americans don't spend their time with a fake ass smile on their face like modern americans do, but as I said tv/cinema culture tends to homogenize the bullshit.

I rarely smile at anyone

Posted by Dianna

Posted by 777

Posted by Dianna

People didn't smile in early photos because they didn't want to look like an imbecile. Smiling was for the simple folk.

It's funny but I have read that hundreds of times.

So what changed? When did the change happen from stone faced to clown face

The roaring twenties

Alcohol

Opium

Flappers

Vaudeville

The culture changed from prim and proper to feel good

click to expand

I've seen some pictures from the twenties where they're smiling.

That, and a picture of a guy holding up a beer after the repeal of Prohibition. That was one big ass smile.

Posted by hydorah

it's 100% cultural. For example native americans rarely smiled, even to this day native peruvians for exampe don't smile a lot. Same for chinese and japanese, but they've been catching up with the fake ass smiles since we've been in the television era.

Europeans and earlier americans don't spend their time with a fake ass smile on their face like modern americans do, but as I said tv/cinema culture tends to homogenize the bullshit.

Do you think it was a forced cultural change by scientist who believed they could recreate america with the illusion of being prosperous & happy?

Posted by Sag898

I rarely smile at anyone

You should smile. Sometimes I listen to comedians just to up my mood. Smiling is good. Timing is everything.

Posted by generation_xy

Is there any harm to fake smiling?

That's not the point. But, yes a fake smile can be dangerous

Posted by 777

Posted by hydorah

it's 100% cultural. For example native americans rarely smiled, even to this day native peruvians for exampe don't smile a lot. Same for chinese and japanese, but they've been catching up with the fake ass smiles since we've been in the television era.

Europeans and earlier americans don't spend their time with a fake ass smile on their face like modern americans do, but as I said tv/cinema culture tends to homogenize the bullshit.

Do you think it was a forced cultural change by scientist who believed they could recreate america with the illusion of being prosperous & happy?

click to expand

no, I think it's more due to the fact that smile is the oldest tool in the bag of scammers and medias are just there to manipulate stupid people

Posted by hydorah

Posted by 777

Posted by hydorah

it's 100% cultural. For example native americans rarely smiled, even to this day native peruvians for exampe don't smile a lot. Same for chinese and japanese, but they've been catching up with the fake ass smiles since we've been in the television era.

Europeans and earlier americans don't spend their time with a fake ass smile on their face like modern americans do, but as I said tv/cinema culture tends to homogenize the bullshit.

Do you think it was a forced cultural change by scientist who believed they could recreate america with the illusion of being prosperous & happy?

no, I think it's more due to the fact that smile is the oldest tool in the bag of scammers and medias are just there to manipulate stupid people

click to expand

There must be a bigger plot to the "big cheese".

It has something to do with our instinctual nature. It's like they want to reproduce what makes us feel good, without the actual feel good. It's like fast food with emotions. Tastes like shit & unhealthy, but its quick fast

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Is there any harm to fake smiling?

That's not the point. But, yes a fake smile can be dangerous

I wasn't trying to make a point.

If a fake smile is a cultural phenomena, what does it do for society? Is it good or bad?

I like the topic. 🖐

click to expand

I would like to hear ur opinion?

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Is there any harm to fake smiling?

That's not the point. But, yes a fake smile can be dangerous

I wasn't trying to make a point.

If a fake smile is a cultural phenomena, what does it do for society? Is it good or bad?

I like the topic. 🖐

I would like to hear ur opinion?

It's on p. 2

click to expand

I see that. But my question is when & why did people transition from straight faced to smiley face?

This photo has an interesting story behind it:



https://petapixel.com/2013/03/08/in-his-iconic-portrait-winston-churchill-is-scowling-over-a-lost-cigar/

"Churchill’s cigar was ever present. I held out an ashtray, but he would not dispose of it. I went back to my camera and made sure that everything was all right technically. I waited; he continued to chomp vigorously at his cigar. I waited. Then I stepped toward him and, without premeditation, but ever so respectfully, I said, “Forgive me, sir,” and plucked the cigar out of his mouth. By the time I got back to my camera, he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me."

Posted by CancerOnTheCusp

This photo has an interesting story behind it:



https://petapixel.com/2013/03/08/in-his-iconic-portrait-winston-churchill-is-scowling-over-a-lost-cigar/

"Churchill’s cigar was ever present. I held out an ashtray, but he would not dispose of it. I went back to my camera and made sure that everything was all right technically. I waited; he continued to chomp vigorously at his cigar. I waited. Then I stepped toward him and, without premeditation, but ever so respectfully, I said, “Forgive me, sir,” and plucked the cigar out of his mouth. By the time I got back to my camera, he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me."

So much mystery & emotion without even trying. That's a real picture that tells a life story

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Is there any harm to fake smiling?

That's not the point. But, yes a fake smile can be dangerous

I wasn't trying to make a point.

If a fake smile is a cultural phenomena, what does it do for society? Is it good or bad?

I like the topic. 🖐

I would like to hear ur opinion?

It's on p. 2

I see that. But my question is when & why did people transition from straight faced to smiley face?

It was a gradual change. I think with social media, it became more evident.

People want to be praised, not scrutinized.

click to expand

What does Tunnel vision mean to u?

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Posted by 777

Posted by generation_xy

Is there any harm to fake smiling?

That's not the point. But, yes a fake smile can be dangerous

I wasn't trying to make a point.

If a fake smile is a cultural phenomena, what does it do for society? Is it good or bad?

I like the topic. 🖐

I would like to hear ur opinion?

It's on p. 2

I see that. But my question is when & why did people transition from straight faced to smiley face?

It was a gradual change. I think with social media, it became more evident.

People want to be praised, not scrutinized.

What does Tunnel vision mean to u?

Are you trying to tell me something?

click to expand

No I'm trying to ask u something