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fig. 1 fig. 2 fig. 3
there are two main reason why the skull emoji (fig 1) is such an expressive reaction emoji to certain pictures.

more obviously, what is it? it’s a skull, which traditionally symbolizes death in literature and film, due to its grotesque form being the remains of the human head after death. the head being, by some illogical, but still somehow truthful metric, the most “human” part of the body. perhaps it is because of the eyes- “the window to the soul” as some would say. regardless. a skull represents death. therefore, the skull emoji (fig. 2) can represent death. but not physical death, in this case. the emotional death that comes after one has been insulted so viciously that they feel dead inside. the emoji usually accompanies a screenshot of such an insult. incomprehensible devastation.

now, secondly, it is something to do with psychology. of course, the first part did as well, but this is more to do with how we, as humans, analyze facial expressions. if you look at the face of the emoji (fig. 3), what is it you notice about it first? perhaps the clenched jaw and teeth? maybe the empty unfeeling eyes? well, since the eyes are devoid of emotion, we can look at the mouth for tells. logically, there shouldn’t be any, because of course it is dead, but there are a few eye catching things. there’s a sort of grimace that comes with the tightly clenched teeth, as if to say “ouch. that one must’ve hurt,” and then there’s also the very slight smile that comes from the apparent upwards curve of the bone above the teeth. as if it’s deriving some bit of pleasure from watching the satisfying torment of another.

in conclusion, the skull emoji represents an emotional death, from something the likes of a devastating insult. it’s grimace/smile combo combined with the cold dead eyes make it say “yeah, you might be dead, but the end was so incredibly, unbelievably perfect that i can’t help but feel it was meant to be.”