Episode Details

What’s in a face? For the ancient Greeks, the shape and features of a person’s face revealed their character, virtue and intelligence. Though these attitudes are outdated, they linger today as our faces are scrutinized in selfies and social media. In her new book, “The Face,” historian Fay Bound-Alberti shares the history and science of how we see and make sense of one another’s faces—while she struggles to recognize the faces of others. She’ll share why the human face has influenced politics, culture and our obsession with beauty and perfection.

Guests:

Fay Bound-Alberti, professor of modern history, King's College London; author, "The Face: A Cultural History"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices