Well, the technique my friend used was to watch source material where the intended emotion/subtext was known. Film critics / professors apparently publish commentaries on classic films (shot by shot and scene by scene) commenting on how the actors portray emotion and subtext - so taking those commentaries and putting them up beside the films allows identification of particular expressions. It sounds like the sort of undertaking that might take a while, but it gives a lot of reference material....
ETA: Also, check out the work of a psychologist named Paul Ekman. I quote my friend: Ekman has compiled a lot of evidence indicating that emotional states are universal across cultures, and so too are the more primitive ways of expressing those emotional states. As an example, backing away from someone, hands up, palms out, is a cross cultural sign of "de-escalate confrontation." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ekman Take his work with a grain of salt -- but so taken, it's plenty worth reading.
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Date: 2009-02-08 03:56 am (UTC)ETA: Also, check out the work of a psychologist named Paul Ekman. I quote my friend: Ekman has compiled a lot of evidence indicating that emotional states are universal across cultures, and so too are the more primitive ways of expressing those emotional states. As an example, backing away from someone, hands up, palms out, is a cross cultural sign of "de-escalate confrontation." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ekman Take his work with a grain of salt -- but so taken, it's plenty worth reading.