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| ichannel Spotlights “the Smooch” |
| Posted
on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 02:26 PM |
Did you know that kissing might reduce dental plaque? Did you ever hear about the New York Health Commissioner in 1937, who banned kissing in Buffalo to stop the spread of influenza? These are just two of the facts revealed on ichannel as the digital channel, deemed Intelligent Television, celebrates Valentine's Day with What's a Kiss?. This National Film Board documentary explores the anatomy, history and psychology behind one of humankind's most accepted forms of affection.
From ancient Rome to the pubic controversy spurred by the first cinematic kiss in 1896, performed by Mae Irwin and John Rice, to current canoodling, the program breaks down “bussing” to rudimentary basics. The film crew travels to Oxford, Las Vegas, Tampa, Paris, Toronto, Waterloo and Greenville, home of University of South Carolina, tracking novel facts and scientific findings.
Some researchers theorize that our desire to be kissed dates back to infanthood, when we innately desire others to taste our body chemicals named “sebum”. This type of behaviour is also exhibited by dogs and monkeys.
Scientists believe we select our kissing partners based upon pheromones, which stimulate nerve endings in the nose. Our subconscious desire is to find pheromones different than our own, but fitting our own genetically desirable profile. That explains one reason why incest is a cultural taboo; a relative's pheromones are too similar to our own.
Biologically, the body's reaction to kissing is a “chemical cocktail” release in the brain that speeds the pulse, dilates arteries and ultimately leads to increases in testosterone or estrogen in the blood, arousing sexual desires. The special also reveals other less pleasant biological facts: the multitude of germs, bacteria and viruses transmitted by mouth-to-mouth contact.
If you crave a thorough understanding of this favourite form of human interaction, don't miss “What's A Kiss?”, Thursday February 14th at 9:00pm ET on ichannel.
ichannel “Intelligent Television” - is available by subscription through cable and satellite providers across Canada. The digital television channel enjoys its largest and most devoted audience since launching in 2001.
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