Smile

Available for over a year

Kate Williams goes in search of the modern winning smile Used in many different and persuasive ways, from beautiful people beaming down from billboards to politicians vying to win our votes - the broad and confident smile is very much at the centre of communication in today's society. Yet open mouthed smiling can also be deemed a sign of madness – or simply undignified. Historian and author Kate discovers the impact of dentistry and films on our changing relationship with our smiles along with role gender and culture play. Why do most of us hate smiling in photographs? Discover why Jenni Murray would never broadcast without one. Producer: Andrea Kidd First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2012.