FACE to FACE Physiognomy and Mug Shots
FACE to FACE Physiognomy and Mug Shots
Bellwork: Thursday 3/12
JOURNAL ENTRY #15
1. _____ nose a. curiosity
2. _____ lips b. self-confidence
3. _____ eyes c. decisiveness
4. _____ shape of face d. creativity
5. _____ eyebrows e. pride
1. Which parts of the head and face do you
associate with each of the following
characteristics? Give a brief reason why for
each one.
Physiognomy
o Physiognomy: theory based upon the idea
that the assessment of a person's outer
appearance (primarily the face) may give
insights into their character or personality.
The term physiognomy can also refer to
the general appearance of a thing, without
reference to its scientific characteristics.
Earliest History of Physiognomy
China Confucious 551-479 BC
Greece Aristotle 384-322 BC
Europe The Public
Middle Ages
5th-16th Century
Key Scientists
o Johann Kaspar Lavater
o Petrus Camper
o Cesare Lombroso
Lavater
An exact relationship exists between
the soul and the body, between the
internal and the external of a man…the
infinite variety of the souls or internal
nature of a man creates an infinite
variety in his body or externality...If such
differences do exist then they must be
recognizable they must also be the
basis for an exact science.
“
”
Lavater
• Work was influential to art during the 18th
century
• Wrote Essays on Physiognomy for the
Promotion of the Knowledge and the Love
of Mankind
– Discussed principles concerning the shape of
the human face and head
– Extremely successful and was reprinted for
hundreds of years in all of Europe
Silhouettes
• Cut paper silhouettes
began in 18th century
France and were very
fashionable worldwide
before photography
Silhouettes
• Lavater made character assessments of individuals using profile silhouettes.
• He created a special chair to hold sitters still while their shadow was traced
Promoting the Love of Mankind
• Eventually published The Pocket Lavater
which had a sampling of profiles to help
one judge people on-the-go
Assessments by Lavater
Fig. 3. A good head cannot be mistaken,
not even in shade. Conceal the under part
and leave only the nose and forehead
visible and signs of attention, love of order
and certainty are apparent. The forehead,
altogether, is too perpendicular for a
productive mind.
Assessments by Lavater
Fig. 5. A noble forehead, a miracle of purity, the
love of order, I might say, the love of light. Such
the nose, such is all.
Assessments by Lavater
Fig. 1. Much is to be learnt from this shade.
Takes little, gives much’ this is particularly
conspicuous in the too round outline of the lips,
which is most defective. The upper part of the
forehead is something curtailed; otherwise this
countenance is refined, discreet, capable of
talents, taste, wit and morals.
Four Temperaments
Sanguine
Melancholy
Phlegmatic Choleric
“The Pocket Lavater”
Group Analysis
• Groups of 3-4
“Preface” DIRECTIONS:
• Read through the “Preface” as a group.
Underline words that you do not know. Look
these words up in the dictionary/online, and
WRITE DEFINITIONS IN THE MARGINS.
• Select 5 of the quotations on physiognomy to
“translate” as a group. Rewrite these quotes in
modern English.
Body Feature Analysis
• Next, your group will read through the
discussion on the significance of the different
parts of the body.
• Again, underline and define words that you do
not now. Discuss in your group the word
meanings to try and to figure out what Lazaro is
talking about.
• After you have read through all of them, select
FOUR of the body parts to illustrate Lazaro’s
beliefs on the body part and corresponding
personality trait.
Lombroso
Famous for applying
these theories of
physiognomy to criminals.
• Before fingerprinting, criminals were
assessed by measurements of the body
and documentation of facial
characteristics.
• Lombroso introduced psychological
evaluation in conjunction
Lombroso
• “Born” criminal
• Criminals are more primitive humans,
having ape-like features
• Stigmata
The Criminal Man
• Some examples of stigmata: – Deviation in head size from the common
– Asymmetry of the face
– Eye defects and peculiarities
– Ears of unusual size
– Nose twisted, upturned, or flattened in thieves, or curved
or break-line in murderers
– Lips fleshy and swollen
– Pouches in the cheek like some animals
– Abundance, variety and precocity of wrinkles
– Excessive length of arms
– Supernumerary fingers and toes
Unfortunately…
• Lombroso’s ideas were very influential in
the police and judicial systems of Europe.
• Some judges up until the 1930’s ordered
‘lombrosian’ anthropometric analyses of
defendants in criminal charges
• Lombroso seemingly wanted his
experiments to bring about the humane
treatment of criminals
“It would be immoral for the law to seek retribution
from those who were biologically incapable of
restraining from anti-social behavior”
Aftermath • Did not start out as a racist science, but
easy to see how it became one.
• People began believing difference was
more than “skin deep”
• Ugly=Barbarian
• Beauty= Most Civilized
• Example: Nazis using measurements of
skull to determine Aryan features
• People feel the need to back up things
they can’t understand
Defined
o Mug shot: A photograph taken of the head
and shoulders, often from the front and in
profile, usually taken in conjunction with
somebody's arrest.
• Invented in the 19th century by Allan Pinkerton, a famous U.S. detective
• Mug shots were first used in “Wanted” posters
• Police originally wanted to use portraits to
classify criminals
• In comparison to the carte-de-visite
portraits police mug shots seemed truer
• In keeping with Lombroso, measurements
of body parts were paired with the portrait
• Alphonse Bertillon – Organized a way to use mug shots effectively
and regularly
– Bertillon style of mug shot is still used today
– Later ordered profiles be taken of possible
criminals
• Criminals would try to distort their faces to
devalue the portrait
“Special Portraits”
• Around 100,000 negatives taken by
Australian police photographers have
been recovered
• Within these were classic Bertillonnage
style shots but also “special portraits” of
prisoners
Final Thought
Mug shots capture people at their lowest or
most vulnerable. Regrettably we are
forced to calculate their guilt or innocence.
Celebrity Mug Shots
George Carlin 1972, disorderly conduct
Hugh Grant 1995, lewd conduct in a public place with a prostitute
Lindsay Lohan 2007, DUI and possession of cocaine
Elvis Presley 1970, taken just for fun (Elvis had a thing for law enforcement)
Heidi Fleiss 2008, DUI and possession
Rip Torn 2004, DUI
Christian Slater 1994, bringing a gun into JFK Airport
Bill Gates 1975, speeding and driving without a license
Mel Gibson 2006, DUI
Jane Fonda 1970, disturbing the peace and possession
Michael Jackson 2003, charged with seven counts of child molestation
Larry King 1971, grand larceny
Frank Sinatra 1938, charged with adultery and seduction
Vince Vaughn 2001, fighting in public
Haley Joel Osment 2006, I see drunk people…