Men and Women: Categorising Facial Expressions

Marjorie Ferguson (1980) identified four types of facial expressions on the cover photos of British women’s magazines:

Chocolate Box

                                    

Chocolate Box: half or full-smile, lips together or slightly parted, teeth barely visible, full or three-quarter face to camera.

Projected mood: blandly pleasing, warm bath warmth, where uniformity of features in their smooth perfection is devoid of uniqueness or of individuality.

Invitational

Invitational: emphasis on the eyes, mouth shut or with only a hint of a smile, head to one side or looking back to camera. 

Projected mood: suggestive of mischief or mystery, the hint of contact potential rather than sexual promise, the cover equivalent of advertising’s soft sell.

Super-smiler: full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward or chin thrown back, hair often wind-blown.

Projected mood: aggressive, ‘look-at-me’ demanding, the hard sell, ‘big come-on’ approach.


                                   
Romantic or Sexual: a fourth and more general classification devised to include male and female ‘two-somes’; or the dreamy, heavy-lidded, unsmiling big-heads, or the overtly sensual or sexual. 
Projected moods: possible ‘available’ and definitely ‘available’.


Studying women's facial expressions has made it clear to me the different categories that particular facial expressions can fall into and also how a facial expression can change the entire meaning of an image. For example, if the model on the cover of the magazine showing a Super-Smiler was not smiling so boldly, it would take away the fun from the magazine and make it seem as if the magazine was more serious which could make some people question whether they want to purchase the magazine or not. This is important as when I create the poster for my horror film I want to get the meaning of the image to come across in a way that makes an audience want to look at it longer because its interesting.






In a study of advertisements in women’s magazines, Trevor Millum came up with various other categories for women's facial expressions:


1. Soft/introverted: eyes often shut or half-closed, the mouth slightly open/pouting, rarely smiling; an inward-looking trance-like reverie, removed from earthly things.
2. Cool/level: indifferent, self-sufficient, arrogant, slightly insolent, haughty, aloof, confident, reserved; wide eyes, full lips straight or slightly parted, and obtrusive hair, often blonde. The eyes usually look the reader in the eye, as perhaps the woman regards herself in the mirror.
3. Seductive: similar to the cool/level look in many respects - the eyes are less wide, perhaps shaded, the expression is less reserved but still self-sufficient and confident; milder versions may include a slight smile.
4. Narcissistic: similarities to the cool/level and soft/introverted looks, rather closer to the latter: a satisfied smile, closed or half-closed eyes, self-enclosed, oblivious, content - ‘activity directed inward’.
5. Carefree: nymphlike, active, healthy, gay, vibrant, outdoor girl; long unrestrained outward-flowing hair, more outward-going than the above, often smiling or grinning.
6. Kittenlike: coy, naïve (perhaps in a deliberate, studied way), a friendlier and more girlish version of the cool/level look, sometimes almost twee.
7. Maternal: motherly, matronly, mature, wise, experienced and kind, carrying a sort of authority; shorter hair, slight smile and gentle eyes - mouth may sometimes be stern, but eyes twinkle.
8. Practical: concentrating, engaged on the business in hand, mouth closed, eyes object-directed, sometimes a slight frown; hair often short or tied back.
9. Comic: deliberately ridiculous, exaggerated, acting the fool, pulling faces for the benefit of a real or imaginary audience, sometimes close to a sort of archness.
10. Catalogue: a neutral look as of a dummy, artificial, waxlike; features may be in any position, but most likely to be with eyes open wide and a smile, but the look remains vacant and empty; personality has been removed. 


In addition to this Trevor Millum also came up with 5 facial expressions for men which could be viewed as being very similar to his facial categories for women:


'Catalouge', in the catalouge look the model will always look artificial and wax like. The features can be any position when using this look be more or less all the time the model will have eyes open wide and a smile. The looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed.









'Comic' The comic look is always deliberately ridiculous, the model will be pulling silly faces/ acting the fool. and the image is always exaggerated.













'Practical' the model will have a concentrating look on her face. Engaged in business, the majority of the time the mouth of the model will be closed. Eyes object directed, sometimes a slight frown is used. And hair often tied back or in a short style.











'Seductive' The seductive look is also similar to the cool/level look in many respects - the eyes are less wide, perhaps shaded, the expression is less reserved but still self-sufficient and confident; milder versions may include a slight smile.









'Carefree'  Is normally active, healthy, vibrant, outdoorsy, often smiling or grinning.





Studying male facial expressions has given me the same insight as studying females facial expressions. However, I think unless it is seductive, practical or catalogue the picture must be chosen carefully otherwise it could look comical.