Top: Amy Poehler, aka The Human Emoticon

Bottom: Duchenne de Boulogne and Adrien Tournachon, illustration from Mécanisme de la Physionomie Humaine [The Mechanism of Human Physiognomy], published 1862, Paris.

Yet another connection between Parks & Recreation and the history of photography.

The above photographic ensemble/work of art, depicting the physiognomically flexible and brilliantly comedic Amy Poehler, was made in April of 2011. We can thank one of tumblr’s many Photoshopping geniuses - conanofallon - who, fortunately for me and all other humans, lives an AP appreciation life.

The bottom series was made in ca. 1856 by the French neurologist Duchenne de Boulogne, in collaboration with photographer Adrien Tournachon (Nadar’s younger brother). Duchenne’s research led to many key discoveries about neurological and muscular pathologies, though, the means to reach those goals seem rather dreadful.

At the Salpêtrière Clinic in Paris, Duchenne stimulated muscular movements of the face with electrical currents, and used photographs (such as the above) to document the resulting expressions.

He believed that there was a direct correlation between one’s physical facial expressions and one’s emotional state.* In his publication “The Mechanism of Human Physiognomy,” he classified 53 emotions according to a particular muscular action.

Duchenne’s influence was extensive, particularly to Charles Darwin: in the latter’s The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, published in 1872, photographs taken by Duchenne and Tournachon appeared as illustrations.

*This is similar to (though not identical to) theories circulating in 19th century scientific and philosophical discourses, which sought to establish moral links between appearance and character; similar correlations would be proposed between race/ethnicity and criminality. Photography was crucial to much of this scientific and pseudo-scientific research.