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About Face |  | Author: Jonathan Cole
Publisher: MIT Press (MA)
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
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Seller: betterworldbooks_
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 425131
Media: Hardcover
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 223
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 0262032465
Dewey Decimal Number: 612.92
EAN: 9780262032469
ASIN: 0262032465
Publication Date: January 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
"What is a face? Why do we have faces? What is it to `face' another person? Or, literally, to lose face, to be faceless, or de-faced? As a physician and neurologist, Jonathan Cole considers every aspect of the human face--its evolution; its exquisite delicacy of musculature and neural control; its capacity to transmit every feeling, intention, mood, state of mind; its crucial role in making contact, establishing identity and relationships; and the dire effects if any of these are defective or break down. About Face is a remarkable book, the first comprehensive exploration of the face, and a fascinating one, which combines the clinical and the human, the biological and the cultural, in an altogether original way." -- Oliver Sacks What is special about the face, and what happens when neurological conditions make expression or comprehension of the face unavailable? Through a mix of science, autobiography, case studies, and speculation, Jonathan Cole shows the importance not only of facial expressions for communication among individuals but also of facial embodiment for our sense of self. He presents, in his words, "a natural history of the face and an unnatural history of those who live without it." Drawing on work in neurology, human development, anthropology, philosophy, and the arts, the book moves from the biological evolution of the face, through the mechanics of expression and perception, to research on the importance of the face in the development of emotion and communication. The heart of the book, though, lies in the experiences of people with facial losses of various kinds. The case studies are of blind, autistic, and neurologically impaired persons; the most extreme case involves Mobius syndrome, in which individuals are born with a total inability to move their facial muscles and hence to make facial expressions. Cole suggests that it is only by studying such personal narratives of loss that we can understand facial function and something of what all our faces reflect. As the author advances a natural history and theory of the face, he reveals something of our nature and how it is defined, in part, by the face.
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| Customer Reviews:
From one with Moebius syndrome August 18, 1999
sandygo4it@earthlink.net (Sandy Goodwick) (Los Angeles area)
11 out of 16 found this review helpful
Jonathan Coles is perhaps the first writer to set into words many of the thoughts that I, and others affected with Moebius syndrome have considered for an eternity - how do we describe a purely physical condition that has intensely emotional consequences? I found myself underlining and starring a variety of points from his book that simply rang true with my own thoughts and experiences. Having grown up during a time when people felt things were best handled when "ignored" (and thus, NOT 'handled' - only "stuffed") I appreciated reading of Coles' observations - they made my own memories and perceptions have a slight more ring of authenticity to them. I would hope that, at some later date, those of us affected with Moebius ("Moebians" as we call ourselves!) would collaborate jointly on an additional literary project - that of sharing our own thoughts as we experience life without a smile. Anyone who thinks we all lead lives of reclusive solitude would be in for a huge surprise. Our greatest challenge seems to not be that which society percieves, the sad state of not having a smile, but rather the limitations others impose upon us by virtue of what they see and perceive. ('he's not smiling - he must be (1) disinterested, (2) dull, (3) stupid (4) uncaring ..., etc.)' Believe me, THAT kind of assumption is as example of the true burdens we must face on a regular basis - the mistaken notions that strangers have when ignorance and prejudice governs how they interact with people they don't know. You'll never find another book "out there" that deals with facial expression like this one does - I've looked! After saying this all, I can also say that I DON'T HAVE A BIG MOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!! And... I can say THAT with a straight face! :):)
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