The term goatee is used to refer solely to a beard formed
by a tuft of hair on the chin—like on the chin of a goat, hence the term
'goatee'. By the 1990s, the term was
also used to refer to the style of facial hair that combines a chin beard and a
short moustache. When Christianity became the dominant religion Satan was being
depicted with a goatee in medieval art. In the media, goatees have often been
used to designate an evil or morally questionable character. Villains in cinema
and serials often appear with goatees. The students with goatees are often a
head-ache to college and school principals. Thus goatees designated evil
characters and are used to signify a character's transformation from positive
or neutral to evil.
My hitherto perception was also in the direction, that
is, men with goatees are inherently sinister and threatening. However this acuity
has come to an end after watching the Christmas ceremony of Pope Francis in
Vatican. A few cardinals staged along with the Pontiff were goatees!
K A Solaman
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