This book provides a comprehensive examination of the human face, providing fascinating information from biological, cultural, and social perspectives.Our faces identify who we are-not only what we look like and what ethnicities we belong to, but they can also identify what religions we practice and what personal ideologies we have. This one-of-a-kind A-Z reference explores the ways we change, beautify, and adorn our faces to create our personalities and identities.In addition to covering the basics such as the anatomical structure and function of parts of the human face, the entries examine how the face is viewed around the world, allowing students to easily draw connections and differences between various cultures around the world. Readers will learn about a wide variety of topics, including identity in different cultures; religious beliefs; folklore; extreme beautification; the "evil eye;" scarification; facial piercing and facial tattooing masks; social views about beauty including cosmetic surgery and makeup; how gender, class and sexuality play a role in our understanding of the face; and skin, eye, mouth, nose, and ear diseases and disorders. This encyclopedia is ideal for high school and undergraduate students studying anthropology, anatomy, gender, religion, and world cultures.

Includes 100 images, numerous sidebars, and interesting "pop-out" quotes related to the face

Topical List of EntriesPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionAcneAcupunctureAfrican AmericanAgingAnimal Facial ExpressionsAnthropometry and CraniometryArtistic RepresentationAsh WednesdayAustralia and New ZealandBaptismBeautyBindiBlackfaceBracesBuddhismCaricaturesCentral AmericaChakrasCheek Piercings and Cheek PlugsChinaChristianityCosmetic SurgeryCosmeticsCrowns and HeaddressesDay of the DeadDeath MasksDental CareDiprosopusDisorders of the FaceEar PiercingEar ShapingEar Spools and PlugsEarlobe StretchingEaster IslandEgyptEmoticonEnglandEpicanthic FoldEvil EyeEvolution of the FaceEye ContactEyebrow GroomingEyeglasses and ContactsFace FolkloreFace PaintingFace PerceptionFace ReadingFace Saving and Losing FaceFace TransplantFacebookFacial CareFacial ExpressionsFacial FeaturesFacial Hair and RemovalFacial PiercingFacial Portraits in TattoosFacial Proverbs, Idioms, and MetaphorsFacial ReflexologyFacial SymmetryFacial TattoosFamous FacesFawkes, GuyFreckles, Moles, and BirthmarksGeishaGenderGreco-Roman CulturesGurningHalloweenHaloHead BindingHead HuntingHennaHypertrichosis and HirsutismIdentityImage of EdessaIndiaInuitJanusJapanJewelryJudaismKohlKoreaLabrets, Lip Plugs, and Lip PlatesMakapansgat PebbleMardi GrasMasked CharactersMasksMasqueradeMiddle EastMimes and ClownsMokoMongoliaMug ShotMummeryNative North AmericaNeck RingsNew GuineaNorth AfricaNorth AmericaNose PiercingOral PiercingPermanent MakeupPhysiognomy and PhrenologyProsopagnosiaRaceReligious BeliefsRussia and SiberiaScarificationScarsSex and SexualityShamanismShroud of TurinSign LanguageSkin Bleaching and TanningSkin Colors and DisordersSlang TermsSouth AmericaSoutheast AsiaSub-Saharan AfricaSumptuary LawsTeeth FilingTeeth PaintingTeeth WhiteningTheaterTibet and NepalTongue PiercingTongue SplittingUnibrowVeil of VeronicaVeilingWartsBibliographyIndex