Eyeliner: A Cultural History
Zahra Hankir
Eyeliner: A Cultural History - New York: Penguin Books, 2023 - 368 p. ill.; 22 cm
1 - The Beautiful One Has Arrived: Nefertiti and the Dawn of Kohl -- 2 People of the Taboo Worso and the Wodaabe -- 3 Eye Paint as Resistance Sormeh in Iran -- 4 Pirates of Petra Kohl in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan -- 5 Not a Costume Cat Eye in Chola Culture -- 6 The Eye Dance Kathakali and Kajal in Kerala -- 7 Geisha Gaze Mebari in Kyoto -- 8 "Naked without It" Drag and the Transformative Power of Eyeliner -- 9 Back to Black: Amy Winehouse and Liner in the Public Eye -- 10 #GraphicLiner: Eyeliner in the Age of Influencers
"From the distant past to the present, with fingers and felt-tipped pens, metallic powders and gel pots, humans have been drawn to lining their eyes. The aesthetic trademark of figures ranging from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools; ancient royals and Gen Z beauty influencers alike would attest to its uniquely transformative power. It is undeniably fun—yet it is also far from frivolous.
Seen through Zahra Hankir’s (kohl-lined) eyes, this ubiquitous but seldom-examined product becomes a portal to history, proof both of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space and of our shared humanity. Through intimate reporting and conversations—with nomads in Chad, geishas in Japan, dancers in India, drag queens in New York, and more—Eyeliner embraces the rich history and significance of its namesake, especially among communities of color. What emerges is an unexpectedly moving portrait of a tool that, in various corners of the globe, can signal religious devotion, attract potential partners, ward off evil forces, shield eyes from the sun, transform faces into fantasies, and communicate volumes without saying a word.
Delightful, surprising, and utterly absorbing, Eyeliner is a fascinating tour through streets, stages, and bedrooms around the world, and a thought-provoking reclamation of a key piece of our collective history." --Provided by publisher.
9780143137092
Cosmetics--Cultural history
Eyeliner--Cultural history
Eye--Care and hygiene
Personal beauty
Cosmetics industry
Eyeliner: A Cultural History - New York: Penguin Books, 2023 - 368 p. ill.; 22 cm
1 - The Beautiful One Has Arrived: Nefertiti and the Dawn of Kohl -- 2 People of the Taboo Worso and the Wodaabe -- 3 Eye Paint as Resistance Sormeh in Iran -- 4 Pirates of Petra Kohl in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan -- 5 Not a Costume Cat Eye in Chola Culture -- 6 The Eye Dance Kathakali and Kajal in Kerala -- 7 Geisha Gaze Mebari in Kyoto -- 8 "Naked without It" Drag and the Transformative Power of Eyeliner -- 9 Back to Black: Amy Winehouse and Liner in the Public Eye -- 10 #GraphicLiner: Eyeliner in the Age of Influencers
"From the distant past to the present, with fingers and felt-tipped pens, metallic powders and gel pots, humans have been drawn to lining their eyes. The aesthetic trademark of figures ranging from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools; ancient royals and Gen Z beauty influencers alike would attest to its uniquely transformative power. It is undeniably fun—yet it is also far from frivolous.
Seen through Zahra Hankir’s (kohl-lined) eyes, this ubiquitous but seldom-examined product becomes a portal to history, proof both of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space and of our shared humanity. Through intimate reporting and conversations—with nomads in Chad, geishas in Japan, dancers in India, drag queens in New York, and more—Eyeliner embraces the rich history and significance of its namesake, especially among communities of color. What emerges is an unexpectedly moving portrait of a tool that, in various corners of the globe, can signal religious devotion, attract potential partners, ward off evil forces, shield eyes from the sun, transform faces into fantasies, and communicate volumes without saying a word.
Delightful, surprising, and utterly absorbing, Eyeliner is a fascinating tour through streets, stages, and bedrooms around the world, and a thought-provoking reclamation of a key piece of our collective history." --Provided by publisher.
9780143137092
Cosmetics--Cultural history
Eyeliner--Cultural history
Eye--Care and hygiene
Personal beauty
Cosmetics industry