You’re a curator. Why write a book on smiling?
I was asked to give a talk at a conference of dentists, and they were interested in the evolving concept of facial beauty, so I gave a talk on teeth and smiling. And before I knew it, it turned into a book.
So you’re uniquely qualified to answer this. What’s with the world’s fascination with the Mona Lisa smile?
The Mona Lisa, in its kind of mysterious and enigmatic guise, is really a creation of 19th-century French critics who chose to see it in those terms. And that interpretation has really lingered.
Let’s talk modern smiles. Who’s got the more presidential smile: President Bush or John Kerry?
Presidents by definition are presidential. So I think, therefore, I’d have to say the president.
Fair enough.
So it’s very difficult for the challenger, isn’t it? I think presidential candidates face the dilemma of having to smile in a way to appeal directly to the electorate, but not to seem lightweight.
I had a golden retriever that often looked as if she was smiling. Was she really?
It’s so funny you should say that, because I knew a golden retriever that absolutely smiled. There was no question. The muzzle pulled back, the ears went down, the eyes half closed and she was without question smiling.
How would you rate your grin?
I don’t know. I suppose I’ll leave that to other people.
I noticed you weren’t showing your teeth on your jacket art.
I’m certainly aware of the poor state of my own teeth; I’m hoping that the book will do well so I can afford to do something about it.
