Second Research Declaration

How can we identify the face of criminality? Through the ever-changing artistry of mug shots, those accused of crimes are catalogued for future reference with a simple pair of photos – one from the front, and a side profile. There are many uses for these glimpses into the human psyche, and their very purposes have changed as have the times. Culture has been born from these identifiers, and so has an intricate system of finding and identifying those said to be criminals. To be explored in my research will be a brief history of mug shots, dating possibly as far back as the Roman Empire and China’s Han Dynasty, to today. Various aspects of procedure will also be looked at. However, the bulk of the information will come from the pictures themselves. What are the circumstances of the accused? How does this change their demeanor and possible reaction to the picture? Finally, the functionality of mug shots will also be touched upon, but what will be most prevalent are the human emotions conveyed in these sometimes eerie photos.