A Face All Too Familiar
I keep seeing this face on TPM, the NYT front page, and the muted TV in the library that is always set to CNN. The hair varies, the skin color, even the bone structure, but one thing is always the same: both lips are tucked behind the front teeth.
Is this apology? Is this a last refuge of inner defiance? I want to say it's a nervous tic, but surely public figures learn quickly enough to do this in invisible ways, like mashing one's toes inside one's shoes, squeezing one's glutes, etc.
These faces should look pretty familiar, but the lips? What's with the lips?
(Apologies for the links: the website wasn't cooperating.)
Surely you've seen this face before. But what signals is it supposed to send? Does it call off the fight or provoke it? Does it make one look bolder or weaker? And why this face?
(Please ignore this if it seems trivial.)
It's not trivial. It's noting a.) I don't want to speak about this and b.) disdain and c.) fake remorse. Communications 101.
March 21, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me, I think it's the face of someone who is coming to terms with the actuality that their actions have consequences, and in these particular cases, the consequences are not anything these individuals would actually desire.
March 21, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
That impression seems just about right to me.
March 21, 2009 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
it's the look of someone who just sucked on a lemon and then realizes there's no salt or tequila to go with it...
March 21, 2009 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lessons learned. Tequilla first. Remorse later.
(sucks in beak)
March 21, 2009 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bwak, already you're doin' shots? Isn't that bad for your eggs?
March 21, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
(hic)
I'm beyond those fertile egg-laying years. I'm one of them, er, new age grannies... Or so I'm told.
Besides, lots of folks enjoy pickled eggs.
March 21, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes trivial is good...
To me it says "I'm really pissed off that I have to address this, and lest I say something I will regret, or will only make matters even worse, I'm tucking my lips in so I can't speak until I am sure about what I'm going to say, then I'll release them from bondage."
March 21, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clearly it's when someone cannot escape being the object of scorn and perhaps ridicule. A person who usually gets to spout off, but can't do so because that would only make things worse.
It's a fascinating expression. Maybe others can find more examples. I don't think we have an exact word for this. But it represents the awareness of a public indictment. It's more than gritting your teeth. Why hide the lips? It's like they're biting their lips. Swallowing rage?
March 21, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eating sh^t?
March 21, 2009 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is fascinating, really. I have seen all these exact faces but to put them together - so interesting. When I make that face, or do that with my mouth and pay attention to how I feel first it sends the message to my brain to shut the f up!The second thing I noticed was a vague feeling of guilt and I'm just sitting here at my compute!. You all should try it and see how you feel.
Usually when attacked (physically, mentally or emotionally) humans will reflectively protect the area they feel is most exposed to injury at that time. What is it about hiding the lips?
March 22, 2009 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very useful blog!!!!
March 21, 2009 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's another one
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0g43b8I201gPI
all very interesting...
March 21, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will we ever see bush or cheney with this expression?
March 21, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tory MP apologizing for gay slurs:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aqIeT-69tPM/SNaJV0N6qzI/AAAAAAAAAfU/HyZUXhIMT4w/s320/lukiwski.jpg
March 21, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
HAHAHAHAHA. Great. As soon as I finished the links I knew a therapist would like this blog. Great picture. Adds to everything here.
March 21, 2009 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
DAMN DAMN DAMN THIS IS GOOD, I MEAN REALLY GOOD.
This--Here, I hereby award you Citizen, the Dayly
Photo Essay award for the WEEK at TPMC, given to you from all of me.
JUST TERRIFIC.
March 21, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
bush - not sure if an artist's rendering - but the topic is "apologizing"
http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/5/8/4/0/25330485-25330487-large.jpg
March 21, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a composite of the Bush/Cheney cabal once they reach the Hague: http://thumb10.webshots.net/s/thumb4/4/96/99/86749699gNcBLH_th.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
March 21, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
rumsfeld:
http://errata.wordie.org/uploaded_images/rumsfeld-790657.jpg
even better:
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/assets_c/2008/06/Rumsfeld%20closeup-thumb-425x299.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gonzo:
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/assets_c/2008/06/Rumsfeld%20closeup-thumb-425x299.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was Rummy again, but just as gross!
March 21, 2009 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
John Yoo - not sorry - but knows he should be?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dm4sFu73cJo/SWT2bFUGUuI/AAAAAAAANaI/5X_Q-q3DyzE/s320/john-yoo-040308-lg.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, all! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's noticed this. I also wonder if very many politicians know not to make this face.
By the way, I thought I saw a pic of Kwame Kilpatrick doing this, but Google Images thinks otherwise for the time being.
March 21, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel pretty certain the "face" is unconscious and would be very, very hard to refrain from. No matter how much they practice in private, once they are forced to face public shame and approbation, I think it is like a knee-jerk reaction. If we go back to many other situations, we may find similar non-verbal expressions. It's like a "gotcha" moment.
I'm gonna keep looking. Because it's really fascinating to me.
March 21, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is reflective, but some of them have an edge of anger about them, their eyes maybe. What would we see if all we got to look at was their mouths?
March 22, 2009 1:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is fun, thank you!
March 22, 2009 1:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
oj sentenced:
http://blog.silive.com/sportsstories/2008/12/large_SIMPSON-SENTENCED.12.05.08.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Madoff sentenced:
http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/madoff-415x275.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
YOU REALLY STARTED SOMETHING. THIS IS MINDBOGGLING.
March 21, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You aren't being facetious, are you? ;^)
March 21, 2009 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
george tenet
http://images.salon.com/news/feature/2004/06/04/tenet/story.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
tom delay
http://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/delay-tom-worried.jpg
March 21, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone ought to compile a Collage of Regret with some of these lipless pouts.
March 21, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
john Mccain
http://www.topnews.in/files/john_mccain.jpg
March 21, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here too I think!
http://www.popcrunch.com/john-mccain-cindy-mccain-the-view-video-september-12/
March 21, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
newt gingrich:
http://giovanniworld.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/ap_gingrich_puffy_300.jpg
March 21, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can see how you are spending your Saturday! You are having entirely too much fun!
March 21, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Convicted as charged! LOL!
March 21, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
roger clemens
http://druglaw.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/21/roger_clemens_photo_by_david_j_phil.jpg
March 21, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
mitt romney
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/images/2008/02/07/romney_quits_020708.jpg
March 21, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
hwang woo-suk, korean scientist who faked cloning results:
http://images.usatoday.com/Wires2Web/20070919/1117926693_South_Korea_Disgraced_Scientistx.jpg
And marion jones:
http://www.javno.com/slike/slike_3/r1/g2008/m10/y186101241194240.jpg
March 21, 2009 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gary, where do you guys find all this stuff?
Good pix.
March 21, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know you're asking Gary. So forgive me, gary, for giving my answer. On google, dd, when you put in "whatever" look at the top of the page and you'll see "images". So you can search for someone being sentenced or whatever. And then click on images. And that gives you possibilities!
Try it! You'll see!
March 21, 2009 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
no problem TheraP, looks like we kind of took the ball and ran with it here. You or worthlesscitizen should do another post, name your micro-expression and I'll be happy to go fetch.
March 21, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
hard not to find images like that. I usually use google image search. Put in specific names, cheney, rumsfeld, ect. Then for more diversity, instead of names, search for words that best describe the faces--disgraced, ashamed.
Sometimes, to get more specific results, I use pixolu.de. For example, put in Cheney, then select a few pictures from the first round of results results--ones that just show cheney's face, let's say. It then does a visual semantic search, it returns only those results that "look" like the ones I selected.
Aside from that, I guess I had some time this afternoon, and after reading blog after blog and article after article about the systemic collapse of ethics all around us, especially in government and media and corporate industry, (yes, it's all redundant I suppose), I thought it was especially refreshing to contribute to a visual commentary like this one.
March 21, 2009 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks for the pixolu, Gary. Had never heard of that!
March 21, 2009 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2486572107_392ee3ecaf.jpg?v=0
Future politician?
March 22, 2009 4:53 AM | Reply | Permalink