Embodiment in Dissent: The Eye Roll as an Interactional Practice

This article investigates a recognizable embodied practice for displaying dissent: the “eye roll,” whereby eyes are rolled up or sideways in their sockets as response to something said done. On corpus of videoed interaction, it shows that: (a) eye roll may be only most salient—visible—element constellation practices embodying dissent; and (b) can quite specific its selection recipients used pursue affiliation with another party. Investigation suggests that is fact protest someone going too far. As an expression stance not visible party whose action targets, collusive those who witness it: In ambivalent status lies value interactional object. Data British American English.