Why Nobody Smiles in Old Photographs
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
pbasswil
There are some very good insights in this vid (although imho some of the points are a bit fumbling. I think they get closest to the truth when they look at the pre-photographic history of portraiture. Euro society was extremely stratified, and the higher your social rank, the more respect you were considered to deserve while the poor were not considered worthy of consideration. Go back a couple of centuries, and it was generally assumed that the ruling class and the high clergy were in their lofty positions as a result of God's will) So among most classes there was a hunger for more esteem, more regard, more respect. The ruling class didn't act like buffoons in public they had their decorum of 'highness' to preserve; their persona of authority to uphold. It would never do to be chummy with one's 'inferiors'. So that set the standard for everyone there was usually someone below you, to whom you wished to look superior, and aloof from. And nowhere was this more clear than in the formal portrait. Before photography, a decent painted portrait was only within reach of the rich who were usually aristocracy. And they used their portraits almost like advertising for their rank and wealth and power. For the 2nd half of the 19th century, when photography arrived, it was first used as an extension of that serious, rank-conscious portraiture tradition. However, as the 20th century dawned, there was a revolution in the printing & publishing of images; which was immediately seized upon by advertising. Marketers had a completely different purpose for the recording of human likenesses (first, engravings, then photos later): they sold more products with images of people of light-hearted demeanor smiling faces that transcended their class, and that broadcast a commonality with _all_ of society. So it was _printed advertising_ that gradually made the public smiling face acceptable! (Don't underestimate the influence this had on the democratization of society as a whole: it was a real force) This development coincided with the now affordable & convenient roll-film camera (starting with the Kodak); formal portraiture then ceased to be the leading purpose of photography.
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There are some very good insights in this vid (although imho some of the points are a bit fumbling. I think they get closest to the truth when they look at the pre-photographic history of portraiture. Euro society was extremely stratified, and the higher your social rank, the more respect you were considered to deserve while the poor were not considered worthy of consideration. Go back a couple of centuries, and it was generally assumed that the ruling class and the high clergy were in their lofty positions as a result of God's will) So among most classes there was a hunger for more esteem, more regard, more respect. The ruling class didn't act like buffoons in public they had their decorum of 'highness' to preserve; their persona of authority to uphold. It would never do to be chummy with one's 'inferiors'. So that set the standard for everyone there was usually someone below you, to whom you wished to look superior, and aloof from. And nowhere was this more clear than in the formal portrait. Before photography, a decent painted portrait was only within reach of the rich who were usually aristocracy. And they used their portraits almost like advertising for their rank and wealth and power. For the 2nd half of the 19th century, when photography arrived, it was first used as an extension of that serious, rank-conscious portraiture tradition. However, as the 20th century dawned, there was a revolution in the printing & publishing of images; which was immediately seized upon by advertising. Marketers had a completely different purpose for the recording of human likenesses (first, engravings, then photos later): they sold more products with images of people of light-hearted demeanor smiling faces that transcended their class, and that broadcast a commonality with _all_ of society. So it was _printed advertising_ that gradually made the public smiling face acceptable! (Don't underestimate the influence this had on the democratization of society as a whole: it was a real force) This development coincided with the now affordable & convenient roll-film camera (starting with the Kodak); formal portraiture then ceased to be the leading purpose of photography.
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Micheal
3: 50 I know it was meant as a joke, but yeah, a couple hundred years ago the standard was a lot lower for entertainment, just because people weren't used to what we are now. People used to go to watch court proceedings like we go to the movies today. They often had no personal interest in the cases, it was just something to do. And every once in a while, something crazy happened.
It actually just occurred to me the other day that in a pretty short span of time we went from having to play music yourself or go see a live performance if you want to hear music, to being able to live your entire life with a personal soundtrack playing 24/7 without knowing what a musical instrument looks like.
The phonograph was the first way to hear music without having to attend a performance or play it yourself and it was invented less than 150 years ago. And the first practical portable music player, not until the 1970s or 80s.
So yeah, in a lot of ways, entertainment was pretty shit by modern standards. We're pretty spoiled with Hollywood and the internet.
I recall hearing about a medieval jester, he was crazy famous in his time, a superstar by the standards of the day. He took huge payments from monarchs and nobles all over Europe to perform. His big act, the one that everyone lost their shit over, was juggling. The dude could juggle. Not alligators or swords or anything, just like, three or four balls, or whatever. But at the time that was something you told your grandkids about seeing when you were their age and they accuse you of exaggerating or going senile.
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3: 50 I know it was meant as a joke, but yeah, a couple hundred years ago the standard was a lot lower for entertainment, just because people weren't used to what we are now. People used to go to watch court proceedings like we go to the movies today. They often had no personal interest in the cases, it was just something to do. And every once in a while, something crazy happened.
It actually just occurred to me the other day that in a pretty short span of time we went from having to play music yourself or go see a live performance if you want to hear music, to being able to live your entire life with a personal soundtrack playing 24/7 without knowing what a musical instrument looks like.
The phonograph was the first way to hear music without having to attend a performance or play it yourself and it was invented less than 150 years ago. And the first practical portable music player, not until the 1970s or 80s.
So yeah, in a lot of ways, entertainment was pretty shit by modern standards. We're pretty spoiled with Hollywood and the internet.
I recall hearing about a medieval jester, he was crazy famous in his time, a superstar by the standards of the day. He took huge payments from monarchs and nobles all over Europe to perform. His big act, the one that everyone lost their shit over, was juggling. The dude could juggle. Not alligators or swords or anything, just like, three or four balls, or whatever. But at the time that was something you told your grandkids about seeing when you were their age and they accuse you of exaggerating or going senile.
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Tianna
Getting here was a whole journey.
I found weird history a couple of days ago, maybe a week and started watching. It's possible that no one's going to believe me but before seeing this video, or I seen it, quickly scrolling, and my subconscious decided to start thinking about it. Yesterday I was wondering why people didn't smile since I've been watching a lot of history stuff lately and the Mexican side of my family still doesn't smile in pictures.
I'm actually impressed with myself that I managed to get at least one of the reasons right. I just kept thinking how creepy it would be if you were standing there for 5 minutes just smiling and not moving. Unsettling to say the least.
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Getting here was a whole journey.
I found weird history a couple of days ago, maybe a week and started watching. It's possible that no one's going to believe me but before seeing this video, or I seen it, quickly scrolling, and my subconscious decided to start thinking about it. Yesterday I was wondering why people didn't smile since I've been watching a lot of history stuff lately and the Mexican side of my family still doesn't smile in pictures.
I'm actually impressed with myself that I managed to get at least one of the reasons right. I just kept thinking how creepy it would be if you were standing there for 5 minutes just smiling and not moving. Unsettling to say the least.
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Angelfeather100
I find non-smiling photos by far more natural than smiling ones. A relaxed face (not smiling, nor crying or such) is the kind we have over one day. I supose by smiling, we might convey a more approachable or kind personality. Or the proof weve had a good day. One thing bothers me though, those girls on the catwalk, no smiles there, they seem to be downright in a perpetual bad mood. Maybe they are perpetually hungry.
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I find non-smiling photos by far more natural than smiling ones. A relaxed face (not smiling, nor crying or such) is the kind we have over one day. I supose by smiling, we might convey a more approachable or kind personality. Or the proof weve had a good day. One thing bothers me though, those girls on the catwalk, no smiles there, they seem to be downright in a perpetual bad mood. Maybe they are perpetually hungry.
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Alex
This is an inspired subject! Those grumpy old faces in black & white or sepia help create the illusion that the world really was monochrome a century ago. But those faces are hilarious, or at least the angry ones are. School photos showed teachers scowling forcefully. That look became fashionable again in the '60s/'70s, largely thanks to rock musicians such as Ritchie Blackmore and Gary Moore.
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This is an inspired subject! Those grumpy old faces in black & white or sepia help create the illusion that the world really was monochrome a century ago. But those faces are hilarious, or at least the angry ones are. School photos showed teachers scowling forcefully. That look became fashionable again in the '60s/'70s, largely thanks to rock musicians such as Ritchie Blackmore and Gary Moore.
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Marina
I learned this in college, it took people at least 30minutes for the picture to be exposed so the smile went awayespecially if they had to stand.
The first picture made, which unfortunately didnt stabilize on the photo paper (similar to a Polaroid from the 70s) was in 1837while the first picture was in 1863-5 where Lincoln is shown in the room (side view.
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I learned this in college, it took people at least 30minutes for the picture to be exposed so the smile went awayespecially if they had to stand.
The first picture made, which unfortunately didnt stabilize on the photo paper (similar to a Polaroid from the 70s) was in 1837while the first picture was in 1863-5 where Lincoln is shown in the room (side view.
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Tanya
also it took a bit longer to take a photo then than it does now like it does with painting a portrait like the mona lisa and henry 8 and his six wives so that was part of the reason for the frowns on everyone's faces as well. photography and everything that went/goes with that was a fairly recent thing for everyone and it was a costly thing and still can be
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also it took a bit longer to take a photo then than it does now like it does with painting a portrait like the mona lisa and henry 8 and his six wives so that was part of the reason for the frowns on everyone's faces as well. photography and everything that went/goes with that was a fairly recent thing for everyone and it was a costly thing and still can be
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Corey
Three reasons. The culture was not Hollywood, was less smiley, more challenging and serious. Photographs took several seconds to snap, sometimes more than a minute in front of a giant, strange camera. Holding a smile that long is difficult and unnatural. On top of all that, their teeth were not as good as modern subjects.
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Three reasons. The culture was not Hollywood, was less smiley, more challenging and serious. Photographs took several seconds to snap, sometimes more than a minute in front of a giant, strange camera. Holding a smile that long is difficult and unnatural. On top of all that, their teeth were not as good as modern subjects.
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hhoward14
Smiling, laughing, orgrinning, was considerd undignified when dignity was valued.
I was at school in the 1950s, and pupils could be caned for not paying attention: get that silly grin off your face. So yes, you could be punished for smiling.
Forgotten fact.
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Smiling, laughing, orgrinning, was considerd undignified when dignity was valued.
I was at school in the 1950s, and pupils could be caned for not paying attention: get that silly grin off your face. So yes, you could be punished for smiling.
Forgotten fact.
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jim
Oh yeah I smiled in photographs. And I have a collection of my big red face grinning out of many social gatherings. A face I barely recognise at all. I don't walk around grinning at every opportunity. Now I try to look a little dignified and not like a creepy pervert.
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Oh yeah I smiled in photographs. And I have a collection of my big red face grinning out of many social gatherings. A face I barely recognise at all. I don't walk around grinning at every opportunity. Now I try to look a little dignified and not like a creepy pervert.
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aaron
Right off the top of my mind, I can say that people did smile while they were have a photo taken. It wasnt very often, but to say it never happened is blatantly incorrect. Just look at Berthold Laufers 1901 photo of a Chinese man with chopsticks and a bowl of rice.
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Right off the top of my mind, I can say that people did smile while they were have a photo taken. It wasnt very often, but to say it never happened is blatantly incorrect. Just look at Berthold Laufers 1901 photo of a Chinese man with chopsticks and a bowl of rice.
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Adan
People had very difficult life back in the day
That is why they smiled less and they were more grumpy, not happy, and less in peace and joy
Imagine life back in the day without much technologies to help you and make your life easier and better?
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People had very difficult life back in the day
That is why they smiled less and they were more grumpy, not happy, and less in peace and joy
Imagine life back in the day without much technologies to help you and make your life easier and better?
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weird_history
Me realizing that I wouldve been locked away a long time ago during this era for being a toothy perverted mentally ill freak-
Btw i smile a lot and i have a pretty big one even when im nervous i smile so this era would not favor me well.
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Me realizing that I wouldve been locked away a long time ago during this era for being a toothy perverted mentally ill freak-
Btw i smile a lot and i have a pretty big one even when im nervous i smile so this era would not favor me well.
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Too
2: 00 if you got something to say buddy I'm right here
On a sidenote, I love all the little kids being surrounded by toys and just having the most serious expression ever, it would be perfect comedy if it wasn't so weird
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2: 00 if you got something to say buddy I'm right here
On a sidenote, I love all the little kids being surrounded by toys and just having the most serious expression ever, it would be perfect comedy if it wasn't so weird
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Star
No, no, it was toilet paper. The TP was very rough. If your ass isn't smiling, neither is your face. We take it for granted in this modern age. Take a moment, reflect and be grateful for your Charmin or White Cloud.
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No, no, it was toilet paper. The TP was very rough. If your ass isn't smiling, neither is your face. We take it for granted in this modern age. Take a moment, reflect and be grateful for your Charmin or White Cloud.
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JAZCC
Smiling in public is still strange in NYC. In fact it took me awhile to get used to it outside of NYC. In NYC they still think smiling means your a bit crazy. Probably cause we have a lot of them walking around.
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Smiling in public is still strange in NYC. In fact it took me awhile to get used to it outside of NYC. In NYC they still think smiling means your a bit crazy. Probably cause we have a lot of them walking around.
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Reflected
That frown. They aren't frowning. My great-grandparents thought it was supposed to be a neutral record. The loss of decorum more widely doesn't necessarily recommend the present by contrast.
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That frown. They aren't frowning. My great-grandparents thought it was supposed to be a neutral record. The loss of decorum more widely doesn't necessarily recommend the present by contrast.
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jacob
bad teeth, sit there and wait, imploded laughs (to figure it all out to not be disrespectful/inconsiderate righteously. it's like a drawn out, less intense, trip that lasts for years)
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bad teeth, sit there and wait, imploded laughs (to figure it all out to not be disrespectful/inconsiderate righteously. it's like a drawn out, less intense, trip that lasts for years)
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KJV
I don't like smiling in every picture, so my natural image shows, and besides, I actually dislike people who are always over smiling and laughing, I call it the Joel Osteen syndrome.
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I don't like smiling in every picture, so my natural image shows, and besides, I actually dislike people who are always over smiling and laughing, I call it the Joel Osteen syndrome.
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vicpz1
Now a video of when people stopped smiling for photographs and started doing that dumb duck face with their lips. Probably around 2000 when the Kardashians showed up.
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Now a video of when people stopped smiling for photographs and started doing that dumb duck face with their lips. Probably around 2000 when the Kardashians showed up.
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