Glasgow smile
A Glasgow smile (also known as a Glasgow grin, Chelsea grin, Cheshire grin or Chelsea smile) is a wound caused by making small cuts on the corners of a persons mouth then beating them until the muscles in their face contract so much as to tear the cuts up their cheeks to their ears. This leaves a scar in the shape of a smile, hence the name.[1][2][3]
This form of torture, which is usually performed with a utility knife or a piece of broken glass,[4] leaves a scar that makes the victim appear to be smiling broadly (hence the name), and commonly leads to death through exsanguination, or blood loss if left untreated.
The practice is said to have originated in Glasgow, Scotland,[citation needed] but became popular with English street gangs (especially among the Chelsea Headhunters,[citation needed] a London-based hooligan firm, where it is known as a "Chelsea grin" or "Chelsea smile").
In media [edit]
The Glasgow smile has been inflicted on characters in multiple films and television programs, including Green Street, House of Tolerance, Pan's Labyrinth and 2008's The Dark Knight, where Heath Ledger as The Joker both has the scar and carves it on numerous victims. It has also a symbol of the fictional serial killer "Jeff the Killer".
Salt Lake City-based deathcore band Chelsea Grin named themselves after the maneuver.
See also [edit]
- The Dark Knight
- Black Dahlia
- The Carver
- Colombian necktie
- Kakihara (Ichi the Killer)
- Kuchisake-onna ("Slit-Mouth Woman")
- Mr. Grin
- The Man Who Laughs
- Smiley (2012 film)
- Nip/Tuck
References [edit]
- ^ "Surgeon Says Hospitals Treat a Knife Victim Every Six Hours". The Daily Express. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ Harvey, Oliver (2009-10-16). "If the Booze Doesn't Get You, The Blade Will". The Sun (London). Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ Arlidge, John (1995-04-24). "City Slicker Glasgow". The Independent (London). Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ Peter Ward Booth, Barry L. Eppley, Rainer Schmelzeisen (2003), Maxillofacial trauma and esthetic facial reconstruction, p. 555
