Why We Say “Cheese”: Producing the Smile in Snapshot Photography

Abstract

This essay explores the history of the toothy smile as a standard expression in snapshots. An analysis of popular photo journals throughout the twentieth century suggests that Kodak played a leadership role in shaping the conceptualization and the cultural habits around photography at the time when the technology was becoming mass-consumed. The Eastman Corporation actively and innovatively used the idea of consumer happiness in its persuasion work, skillfully exploiting visual codee.

Cite this

Christina Kotchemidova (2005). Why We Say “Cheese”: Producing the Smile in Snapshot Photography. Critical Studies in Media Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/0739318042000331853

@article{christina2005why,
  title  = {Why We Say “Cheese”: Producing the Smile in Snapshot Photography},
  author = {Kotchemidova, Christina},
  year   = {2005},
  journal = {Critical Studies in Media Communication},
  doi    = {10.1080/0739318042000331853}
}

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