Faces around the World

May 15, 2012

DeMello (sociology & anthropology, Central New Mexico Community Coll.; Encyclopedia of Body Adornment) brings a cultural anthropology perspective to this work, which contains a variety of thematic entries on all aspects of the human face. According to the preface, "this encyclopedia is the first of its kind to take a comprehensive look at the face throughout history and around the world." Cultures are profiled generally by region (e.g., North America, North Africa) or smaller geographic units (e.g., Easter Island, New Guinea). Topics include piercings and other modifications of the face, cosmetics and other facial adornments, and artistic representations of the face in various religious traditions (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity). Subjects such as blackface, bindis, earlobe stretching, masks, crowns, headdresses, and veiling are explored; other eclectic listings touch on emoticons, the Shroud of Turin, Guy Fawkes, and even Facebook. Lesser-known subjects such as moko (Maori tattoos), prosopanosia (face blindness), and diprosopus (being born with two faces) are also covered. Additionally, DeMello introduces a historical dimension in her discussions of, e.g., Greco-Roman societies and Ancient Egypt. Quotes and anecdotes are scattered throughout, and the volume includes an extensive bibliography. While the cross-references are helpful, the resource could have used more articles on specific features such as the eye or nose, with anatomical information and pictures of different types. Still, concise entries with suggestions for further reading make this an ideal source for students. VERDICT This interesting introduction consolidates hard-to-find information and provides many resources for continued exploration.--Barb Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2012
Arranged alphabetically from Acne to Warts, this encyclopedia deals with faces through history, how features express emotion, and major cultural beliefs and practices associated with faces. There is an introductory topical list followed by 132 entries covering biological aspects, social roles, disorders, folklore, beliefs, scarification, and cosmetic surgery. The introduction offers an overview of the sense of what a face doesboth to identify a person as well as to convey a person's background and life. The face serves to express gender, even social position. The author even suggests that for nonhuman animals, especially dogs and cats, the face is the way to connect and make contact. Entries cover a range of disciplinesanthropology, anatomy, gender, religion, and world culturesand consist of several paragraphs and a short list of additional reading. Cross-references are in bold type. There are some black-and-white photographs included but not nearly as many as one might expect in a book on this topic, and color would have been a big plus. The bibliography and index, which complete the volume, are helpful. However, the lists of subheadings for a topic in the index vary and are not exhaustive. Because this book is aimed at the general reader or student of anthropology or sociology, it covers topics of more common understanding or interest. Academic and public libraries supporting sociology or anthropology students may wish to add this title, both in reference and in the circulating collections. Its focus on the face makes it an interesting source of some unusual information on this significant part of the body.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)