Body parts...

[fajrdrako]

It has amused me how many of the items I've seen about Matt Smith's coming role as the Doctor in Doctor Who have been about his hair. Even a kid, in a question and answer session, asked about his hair. Now, I don't see his hair as being so remarkable.



When I was young, people used to fuss over other people's hair all the time. It was a thing. Especially young men's hair. Girls could do anything with their hair, it didn't matter much - mostly they just grew it long and straight, as I did. But men's hair? That was a big deal. My cousin and my uncle fought over the subject like Hector and Achilles. For years. There was even a Broadway musical about it - "Hair". It was a big deal. So Matt Smith has been photographed with hair that has personality - I like that. It's a good thing. Hair should be interesting.

And teeth... I thought of this while reading Sam Wollaston's review of Britain's Got Talent and John Barrowman's new show, Tonight's the Night:

In all my years of watching television, Simon's teeth are the silliest I've ever seen; they're like the White Cliffs of Dover... John Barrowman is the man with the perfect teeth this time. Perfect everything, he's shiny and sparkly, nice even. Too nice. No one ever failed on Tonight's the Night, we're told. Where's the fun in that?

I laugh. (Ah, Wollaston, there is a world of philosophical speculation in that question.)

But then I thought: speaking as someone who is neither British nor American, it seems to me that the British talk about teeth a lot. Really a lot. They notice teeth, and mention them. While Americans, though they value their teeth, don't talk about teeth. Not directly. They might talk about dentists, and dentures, and toothpaste, or whatever, but they don't say (at least not in the media), "Look at that person's funny teeth."



Now I'll probably see a zillion sources proving me wrong.

Comments

[angelfireeast.livejournal.com]

You know I tell Doctor Who I've never seen so many people so fussed about a guy's hair. Really made a big deal out of guy's hair. I get he fuss over David's hair from series three onwards but I don't really join in on the fuss over Matts'. I guess maybe it's because I'm not in love with the way it is in those photos. Maybe once he's on screen it'll look better. I agree hair should be interesting and something to talk about. It's fun getting exciting over it.

LOL about the teeth! I never noticed that but it's true about British people and Americans.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it's true about British people and Americans.

You think so too? It's funny the way cultural differences affect what we talk about.

Hair has such an effect on what people look like. Imagine Christopher Eccleston with David Tennant's hair - ? Well. I can't. Or, really, vice versa. Hair is as individual as smiles.

I'm so glad Captain Jack's hairstyle in Torchwood is as it is. I think it suits Jack (and John Barrowman) perfectly and though we see him with many hairstyles, it's my favourite by far.

[angelfireeast.livejournal.com]

You think so too? It's funny the way cultural differences affect what we talk about.

From what I've seen yes it is. Canadian's seem to be with American on this. It's all talk about dentists, and dentures, and toothpaste with the odd joke about whiting teeth thrown in there.

Hair has such an effect on what people look like. Imagine Christopher Eccleston with David Tennant's hair - ? Well. I can't. Or, really, vice versa. Hair is as individual as smiles.

I can't imagine that in my mind lol.

I'm so glad Captain Jack's hairstyle in Torchwood is as it is. I think it suits Jack (and John Barrowman) perfectly and though we see him with many hairstyles, it's my favourite by far.

I don't really like Jack's hair on Torchwood. I feel it does nothing for him. On Doctor Who it looks better at times in the later series. It's the cut. I like John's short hair best. It really suits his face and it can do spiky or normal without trouble.

I know I'm one of the few people who feel this way about Jack's hair.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

It's the 'fakeness' of over-orthodontised/over-cosmeticised American teeth. There always seem to be too many of them in the mouth.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thing is, I don't even notice teeth - regardless of what they look like. I guess most people are more observant than I am.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I don't either, to be honest. I saw that as someone who's had orthodontics!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Having had a history of dental problems for years, after I broke my front teeth in 1982, I suppose I tend to notice. The dental profession kept trying to salvage what was left, with caps, & c, for 20 years. I was so glad to get rid of them and get some nice false ones in 2002…

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

Matt Smith's hair is a being onto itself. Great, though. I like it. His lack of visible eyebrows is interesting. Whoopi Goldberg doesn't seem to have eyebrows, either. (Fun fact.)

JB's hair is fine, but not in KKBB. It's so piece-y and moussed-looking.

But. But. I LOVE John Barrowman's smile. I just love it. Glinty!

(Uh oh... my teeth are over-orthdontised, I admit it. And I use whitestrips. I'm such a stereotypical American.)

Well, back to the coffee, which is the reason I need whitestrips.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Eyebrows are very individual things!

I never particulary noticed Jack's hair in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang". Guess I'll have to look again.

I love Barrowman's smile, too. Just because it seems to ebullient.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

LOL I had my teeth whitened once but then thought 'what's the point? I drink so much coffee!':)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't drink much coffee, but teeth do change colour with time. Once my doctor suggested I should get them whitened. He said he had a great new process and it 'only' cost $500. I think I laughed at him. He meant well. Tooth colour is significant to him. But me? I never notice. My teeth are my teeth. As long as they aren't black or polka-dotted, I don't much care that they're a little off-white now.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

it seems to me that the British talk about teeth a lot. Really a lot. They notice teeth, and mention them. While Americans, though they value their teeth, don't talk about teeth

I would probably have said the opposite - I've seen a few articles where Americans apparently commented on the funny teeth of people like Ricky Gervais when he went over to Hollywood, and I can't recall having any conversations about an actor's funny teeth myself. Perhaps because it is quite unusual for British people to have non-funny teeth by American standards.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Who is Ricky Gervais? ...I don't recall ever talking about people's teeth, either. (Canadians talk about the weather.) But I don't think it's so much conversations that do it, but remarks or focus in the media.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Ricky Gervais is the creator, writer and star of the original The Office series, also the Extras series - neither of which I watched because that kind of humour makes me feel ill not amused, but I can recognise their brilliance - and has also done some absolutely hilarious standup shows that made me really laugh, and lately a few films including Night at the Museum, Ghost Town and Stardust. He's one of those people who gets everywhere, basically.

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I think it's because it looks like 'Doctorish' hair before he even starts!

As for the teeth, it's like weather - we just talk about it. We don't have particularly good teeth as a nation historically and we find perfect teeth a bit disconcerting!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it looks like 'Doctorish' hair before he even starts!

In those pictures, yes - but I don't recall even noticing his hair when I saw him on other shows. Where he had rather ordinary. So I'm hoping he keeps the Doctorish hair.

we find perfect teeth a bit disconcerting!

Or startling enough to mention, perhaps? That's partly why I find it interesting - that they seem to think white teeth on television sort of remarkable.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I've bemusedly been present at Americans talking about Brit teeth... (usually to wonder why Brits don't seem to have orthodontists [g])

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think it boils down to - you notice what looks different to you.

Do other nationalities react to British or American teeth?

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm constantly startled at the state of British teeth. Perhaps Americans overdo it, but people I've seen here have what I might call medical issues with their teeth, and they don't seem to get them fixed.

I guess I can see their point about Americans being overorthodontized. but. when teeth get in the way of talking properly or eating properly, you'd think they'd fix them. Then again, I've heard from many people that you _don't_ want to go to British dentists, so maybe they're scared that they'll just be worse in the end? ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

When I lived in England, I broke my fake porcelain tooth on a bit of scrambled eggs, so I had to go to a dentist. He was terrific. I can't believe that British dentists are inept! I think it's just that the British public is as dentist-phobic as the rest of us, or more so. And perhaps that American dentists are more concerned with cosmetic dentistry, while British dentists are more concerned with medical dentistry.

And then the British notice straight, white teeth, in a way that makes them think they are amusing or strange or artificial. Fashion? Habit? It's not just the noticing, it's feeling the freedom to react verbally, or in print, in an "everyone thinks this so it's okay to say" sort of way. Which is why I postulate that it's not just perception, it's a cultural slant. I would further postulate that it started with television. I never noticed it in my readings of history or literature.

I find it strange just because I hardly ever notice teeth at all - regardless of what side of the world they're on. They're part of the overall landscape of the face.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

It's about money. The problem is that there is a shortage of National Health Service dentists. Far more are in private practice, and it is very expensive. I've always been lucky in having NHS dentists. (You still have to pay a bit if you're in work, but luckily I was a student or unemployed when I had most of my major work done, so it was free.)

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

He does have killer teeth there.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Rather... remarkably. Not his best picture, I think.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I guess the Doctor is finally ginger, huh?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

...We'll see!