Body Language

Posted by Harcamone

This is not the first time that J. Carter’s body language expresses, more eloquently than words could, his unfitness for diplomacy. One must make allowances and extend respect for age, but he is very far out of his league.

The gesture of Carter is a hopeful, pleading “turning towards.” The position of his hands is indeterminate — they are just sort of weakly folded into one another. His elbows are indeterminate and off axis. One foot is on the ground; one foot is mostly off, balanced awkwardly and pointlessly on the ankle. His shoes do not shine. His head is slumped down into his shoulders, making his neck invisible. This is not a position of strength or stability. Carter’s mouth is indeterminate, too, neither open nor closed. If he is saying anything, nobody is paying attention. Looked at as “body architecture,” the total effect is one of extreme instability and weakness. Carter looks inconsequential.

The body language of Haniyeh does not reciprocate Carter’s turning. There is nothing weak or unstable here. Haniyeh’s body expresses resoluteness and comfortableness. Neither he nor the translator wears a tie, as is their custom; they do not alter it to suit a former US President. Haniyeh’s hands are visible, relaxed and symmetrical. There is no slumping, other than the sag of his middle-age belly. His head is high on his neck. His shined shoes are flat on the floor. He lips are closed, and he wears a soupçon of a smile. His posture beams confidence. He is not looking at Carter, in fact his eyes seem directed slightly towards his left, away from Carter.

Haniyeh’s erect posture put his head and top of shoulders above the back of his chair, where they stand out in contrast to the orange curtains. Carter’s shoulders sink below the back of his chair, even half of his head is sunk below the line of the chair. His pale skin and white hair fade into the white, undecorated background.

Even the translator’s body is not evenly situated between Carter and Haniyeh, but leans significantly towards Haniyeh. His glance, too, is to his left, away from Carter.

To ceremonious people like Persians and Arabs, every detail of this picture yields information. Many Westerners cannot read these simple, obvious semiotics.