What do really know is behind that smile?

A society that takes appearances for reality...that does not look behind masks, cannot see behind masks, does not want to see behind masks

(I actually would trust the face in the first image than the one in the second).

But do people ever let us see what is beyond the surface?  In America and now much of Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, the object or goal is to imitate or even attain the surface, the appearance of happiness, the good life, the right smile, right body, even right conduct.

The pre-Raphaelite beauty of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, I projected this onto someone who probably has no idea what I was talking about or resembles very little to the girl in the painting other than physical appearance.

The striking appearance, however, of Leonardo's John the Baptist or Lisa Ghiradelli (the Mona Lisa, most likely) would seem to combine both the material and the extra-material.  That smile is something that maybe a European might be able to embody, but not an American.

Traveling around the world, I have usually felt just being in the presence of Americans that, yes, they are so friendly, open, etc. but also shallow, precisely because they see only appearances and seem to believe the surface is all there is.  Depth would include the notion that there are layers beneath the surface, and I don't think Americans are even uncomfortable with that notion, notwithstanding the allegiance that a large number seem to have to established religion.

Americans are great about talking about the latest technology, sports, Hollywood movie, or fad, but it usually doesn't extend beyond this for most, in my experience.  In a sense, one can't blame, growing up in the society they have.  The French, I know, grow up with art and literature in their school curriculums.  You may argue that their economy is sputtering but I don't think you could argue very convincingly that there is less intellectual curiousity there than there is here.  They still live in a capitalist of the social-democratic variety, of course, so they're still subject to being bombarded with a lot of American-style advertising.