Monday, July 28, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2899: Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I" Trailer and Recognizing Facial Components of Fear-Surprise (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





Most people would say that Jennifer Lawrence is a very talented actress. Although her appearance in this trailer for "The Hungergames: Mockingjay - Part I" is brief - it is has significant impact.

It is amazing the percentage of people who are unable to recognize moderate facial expression - let alone mild or subtle scenarios. The image below is captured during the 0:52 mark of the trailer. Ms. Lawrence's eyebrows are drawn together and subtly and centrally elevated. There is also a subtle central forehead contraction (CFC) present.

What is particularly noticeable in this moment are Lawrence's upper eyelids - for they are moderately retracted - and in this fear-surprise cluster they are the strongest component.

Katniss Everdeen's nostrils are mildly flared and her "mustache area" (the area in between the nose and the upper lip and termed so regardless of gender) is mild-moderately tense. Her jaw is tensed and stiff - with her lips configured in a mild surprise.

Although in most "real-life" scenarios, one would expect more forehead contraction and eyebrow elevation, Jennifer Lawrence does a very good job projecting the emotion of fear-surprise.

When a person is judged to be a "good actor" - what we really mean is that they deliver their lines with great vocal qualities (aka paralanguage - such as pitch, cadence, rhythm, volume, crescendo/decrescendo, pauses, etc.) - along with spot-on body language. All three of these components must be in unison and consistent with the emotion and scene. Too often these ingredients are considerably disparate - and yet they pass for "acting".

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2898: Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman, a Suppressed Smile and ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2316:  Jennifer Lawrence's Response to Her Oscar Stumble -  Silver Linings Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2267:  Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globes The Influence of Color on Human Sexuality - Claire Danes, Zooey Deschanel & Jennifer Lawrence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2397:  Angelina Jolie on Motherhood & Her Own Mom  Body Language Tells ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2292:  Mercedes Benz CLA Super Bowl Commercial "Soul"  Willem Dafoe's Body Language as the Devil

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2897: Fifty Shades of Grey - Part II - Warning Signs & Threat Assessment 






















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