A professor from the College of the Holy Cross will present a public talk titled “The Science of Emoji” on Thursday, November 12, at the Museum of Worcester. This event is part of the museum’s exhibit “Smile Gallery: An American Icon.”
Benjamin Weissman, an assistant professor of psychology, will share insights from his research focusing on how people interpret emojis and the cognitive processes involved. The talk is scheduled to take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at the museum located at 30 Elm St.
According to the museum’s event listing, Weissman’s presentation will examine the interplay between emojis and written or visual communication, discussing both the advantages and challenges associated with their use. Weissman also intends to explore how the human brain decodes emotional cues, such as winks or grins, when they accompany text.
Advance registration is required to attend the event, and interested participants can sign up through the museum’s event page.
The origin of the smiley face has local significance, as it was created in Worcester. In 1963, following a corporate reorganization, Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Co. sought to boost employee morale. Joy Young, the company’s assistant director of sales and marketing, commissioned freelance artist Harvey Ball to design a simple smile for promotional materials. Ball, initially dissatisfied with his first design, added two eyes, leading to the iconic yellow face that became widely recognized in American pop culture and inspired numerous modern emojis.
The Museum of Worcester’s galleries are open to the public from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as preparations for Weissman’s talk continue.
