Categorizing Facial Expressions

Female Poses and Facial Expressions

• Laura Mulvey coined the term ‘Male Gaze’ in 1975. She believes that in film audiences have to ‘view’ characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male.

• Marjorie Ferguson categorized all female poses into four different categories, these include; Chocolate Box, Invitational, Super Smiler and Romantic/sexual.

1 - Chocolate Box• Half/ full smile• Lips together/ slightly

parted• Teeth barley visible• Full/ three- quarters of

face to the camera• blandly pleasing,

uniformity of beauty and devoid of uniqueness

2 - Invitational• Emphasis on the eyes• Mouth shut with hint of

a smile• Head to one side or

looking back to the camera

• suggestive of mischief or mystery, hint of contact rather than sexual promise

3 - Super Smiler

• Full face• Wide open, toothy smile• Head thrusts forward or

chin thrown back • Hair often wind blown• aggressive, look at me

attitude

4 - Romantic or Sexual

• Includes male/ female ‘two-somes’

• Dreamy• Heavy lidded• Overtly sensual/ sexual• possibly or definitely

available

Male Poses and Facial Expressions

• Trevor Millum categorized the different male poses and facial expressions in 1975. These poses were put into 5 categorizes, including; Carefree, Practical, Seductive, Comic and Catalogue.

1 - Carefree

• Nymph like• Active• Healthy• Vibrant• Outdoor girl• Often smiling/ grinning

2 - Practical

• Concentrating• Engaged in business in

hand• Mouth closed• Eyes object directed• Sometimes a slight frown• Hair often tied back or

short style

3 - Seductive

• Similar to cool/ level• Eyes less wide• Expression is less

reserved but still self-confident

• Milder

4 - Comic

• Deliberately ridiculous• Exaggerated• Acting the fool• Pulling faces

5 - Catalogue

• A neutral look as of a dummy, artificial, wax like

• Features may be in any position- but most likely to be with eyes open wide and a smile

• Looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed