Sunday, August 31, 2008

I'm Joelogon, and I'm a Serial Head-Tilter

The Weird Universe blog this week looked at the phenomenon of people tilting their heads in photographs.

There have been a few recent notable examples of this (by people famous for being famous [warning, audio], but the researchers found that head-tilting in pictures dates back to medieval paintings. They suggest that it's a submissive gesture:
This finding supports the idea that head canting is strongly connected with the expression of submission, appeasement, ingratiation, and request for protection... In contrast, in paintings portraying nobles, professionals, and artists, head canting was minimal or absent.
This is a little disconcerting, since I seem to recall tilting my head in, oh, one or two photos. Let's look at the photographic evidence from some of my Flickr pics -- here's me at the Vaynerchuk-Scoble event at 1223 in July:

DSCF5119

OK, maybe I'm just trying to snuggle up next to JC. How about a solo shot? (In formal wear, to boot):

joetux2005

And with company:
IMG_3988

Getting laid off from that company:
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Zombified:
IMG_3483

With Fark's Drew Curtis:
DSCF0840

Next to the Wienermobile:
DSCF0060

Wearing a hat:
IMG_3087

Next to someone wearing a hat:
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With girls:
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With guys:
IMG_4100

Standing:
IMG_3163

Sitting:
IMG_6117

So, it appears that I'm a chronic, serial, unrepentant head-tilter.

(And this is just a small selection, with just the photos where I'm not explicitly trying to fit into the picture, or taking a photo of myself.)

Maybe I have an equilibrium problem (I note that alcohol is involved in most of these photos).

However, I think it's mostly because I'm trying to get closer to the person I'm next to. This could be because I'm an emotional basket case; alternately, it could be because I'm usually shorter than the person I'm next to.

I wonder what the researchers have to say about Mouth-Open Girl.

6 comments:

Regan said...

My name is Regan, and I'm also a serial head-tilter. I like your closeness theory. I suspect I do it because my personal space bubble is so huge that I figure I look like I'm trying to distance myself from the person, no matter how hard I try to overcome. So, head tilt = "I actually like this person. Look. I'm putting my brain closer to them."

Joelogon said...

The vest with the big spikes on it doesn't help in that regard, does it? I'm just saying.

Sunny said...

maybe it's because you are short :)

Joelogon said...

Erm, yes, I believe I covered that point.

prettyparker said...

Great post Joe. I'm not a header-tilter, I'm a chin-lifter. I started posing for pictures with my chin up after I heard it removes any shadows from under the eyes. Now I can't stop even though it looks ridiculous.

Joelogon said...

Well, I guess it would also reduce any stray chins one might have (and I'm not saying that one does), though it'd also make one permanently look as if one was challenging onlookers to take a swing at one's chin.