(Untitled)

[kyanited]

Smile - And Show Your Teeth

(About the effect and perception of smiles in different cultures and times.)

"In Japan, it is tradition to find dental irregularities charming. An asymmetrical tooth appears to us to be something charming (kawai). On the other hand, we esteem that having regular teeth shows that one has quite a cold character, even a

Comments

[jess_in_japan]

Not to brag, but a group of us actually got to have tea inside of Tanizaki's house in Kyoto. It is a really beautiful place... we were really blessed with that rare opportunity.

That being said, I agree with like 5% of anything Tanizaki has written ever. He's blatantly racist and all that... it is really quite amazing. Osa's teeth are incredibly crooked... do you think of them as kawaii? I think of them as omoroi at best, but then again I'm not Japanese and therefore would not think in such a way (so sayest Tanizaki).

[kyanited]

Well, you wouldn't find black teeth exceptionally beautiful, either, would you? And still that's what it was in a certain time, in a certain region, in a certain society.

I found the article? essay? when searching for pictures of black teeth, and I just thought it's interesting how very different beauty ideals were and are. If you follow the link at the top, you will find the context for the Tanizaki quote.

He writes about the artificial smiles of Hollywood stars, he makes it his personal view and it's from the 1930's.

I don't know him at all, and I don't know if what he writes about Japanese ideals is true, but I have little trouble believing it could be true, as many things have been and still are different and perceived differently.

The whole text is quite a bit controversial imo, but nonetheless interesting, with interesting illustrations.

[sumire_no_hana]

Interestingly, I think it was the "Go Go Takarazuka" article about Daigo Seshiru mentions how her crooked teeth are charming ^^;

[onion_mob]

You've just reminded me of a burning question! I noticed that halfway through her career Osa's teeth suddenly became straight, but I don't think she had time to secretly get braces . . . what gives?