Lest I imply I think that only the Bushes have revealing facial expressions
Most people have facial expressions and habits of which they are completely unaware. I doubt many of us here could pass the test for physical perfection we seem to expect of our representatives. Imagine being scrutinized, examined, photographed upclose and personal constantly. The stuff of nightmares.
My husband had Bell's Palsy at 26. (As a young litigator just starting out in a big firm, this was incredibly upsetting). He made a full recovery, but for months, he slowly trained himself not to smile or lift his eyebrow or make any really exaggerated facial moves. He still isn't much of a smiler, years later.
In my son's BFA acting program, they tape and observe each other, looking for repetitive or meaningless mannerisms, ticks, facial and verbal habits. No one is really very aware of these in himself, most have no idea how they come across in performance. And of course, the interpretation of these is so subjective anyway. Like you, I hated that lipbiting thing of CLinton's, but I bet some found it very sincere and endearing (ugh).
I do wonder how many of the presidents elected prior to the television age would have passed muster today, physically or verbally. Now we want either Harrison Ford or Bill Pullman. We want actors. People who have not only political acumen and knowledge and ability, but look really good as they tell us about it and look good every minute of the day. |
