Eyes and eye contact

17 cards in this category — of which 16 complete, 1 under development.

• Sustained direct gaze (Japan - confrontation)In the West, meeting eyes shows confidence; in East Asia, staring at a senior citizen is a silent insult. The same pair of eyes, two opposing languages.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• The intense Arab gazeIn Cairo, a direct gaze signals frankness and honesty. In New York, the same look can seem aggressive or intrusive - a veritable "clash of looks".
  CompleteCuriosity
• Le regard lowered/down mixte (islam pratiquant)A Muslim man who looks down at a foreign woman is respecting a religious norm. She may see it as contempt. Two readings of the same lowering: purity vs. contempt.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Eye-rollRolling your eyes in the West: "you can't be serious". In East Asia: just a nervous tic that means nothing. A universal gesture with two radically divergent interpretations.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Meeting eyes in the street (USA / Southern Europe)Staring at someone for 3 seconds on the street in New York: a challenge; in Naples: a greeting. Two geographies, two meanings of the same look.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Staring at an unknown baby (Scandinavia vs. Latin America)A Brazilian woman smiles at an unfamiliar baby; a Swedish woman looks away. Physically identical, emotionally opposed.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Pointing (Malay/Indonesian)Malays and Indonesians point with their eyes. Finger outstretched = vulgar. Stranger sees nothing. Two codes, two worlds.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Close your eyes and listen (USA vs. non-Western cultures)Indian student closes eyes while listening to teacher: commitment. Same student in the USA: insult. Silent eyelids speak two languages.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Looking away from an elder (West Africa)Nigerian boy looks down at his father: respect. Same young man in the USA: suspicious. Silent gaze means two things.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Direct eye contact (Native Americans vs. Westerners)Young Amerindian looks away as a sign of respect. The officer sees him as suspicious. Same gesture, two worlds.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Raising the eyebrow to say no (Italian vs. Northern European)Italian raises eyebrow loudly: "No". Swedish: "Pardon? One millimeter of muscle expresses two realities.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Looking down on the elderly (Korea)Young Korean looks down at mother: filial piety. Same young person in the USA: loss of trust. Two codes of respect.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Longing/flirtation (Arab vs. Western)Languorous Arab gaze: courteous flirtation. Same Western gaze: aggression/objectification. Desire speaks two languages.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Read the Indonesian smile (joy vs discomfort)Indonesian employee smiles: does she accept? Is she happy? Uncomfortable? The smile hides as much as it reveals.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Raising the head with eyebrows to say no (Turkish/Balkan)Turk raises eyebrow: "No". English: "Did you hear me? A millimeter of muscle expresses two realities.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Direct eye contact vs. authority (Spain vs. Anglo-Saxon West)Young Spaniard looks directly at teacher as a sign of respect. Same look in England: perceived impertinence. Same muscle, two codes.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Le clin d'œil de séduction (Asie de l'Est)Un clin d'œil dans un bureau tokyoïte : inconvenance certifiée.
  Under developmentMisunderstanding