Faces: A Cultural History

The face: our most distinguishing feature, but one which remains alien to us and which hides as much as it reveals. The slightest variation in characteristics is enough to distinguish one physiognomy from another, to determine identity and to draw a line between one person and another. In the moral hierarchy of bodily geography, the face embodies the highest value. It is the privileged site of love and hate, and judgements of beauty or ugliness are inscribed within it. It is so highly valued that any change, any visible trace of injury, can be perceived as a tragedy, akin to an attack on one's identity. An individual's unique face corresponds to the uniqueness of his or her personal adventure. It is also the vehicle through which we produce and manage our daily interactions with others. The face precedes individuals, announces their presence, indicates whether they are known and displays their possible intentions.