1F483 (dancer)

ambiguous gender

cf bunny girl(s)

1F482 (guardsman)

wiki:bearskin

ceremonial military hat since 17thC

most commonly British

"A member of the Queen's Guard wearing the ceremonial military black bearskin hat. Most likely standing guard in front of Buckingham Palace in London, United Kingdom. A British guard." [cite]

cf police officer, pistol

misread as gangster's knit cap

1F481 (information desk person)

librarian (books? computer?)
advice columnist
counselor, psychotherapist?
Siri?

always female?

"A person at an information desk providing the answer to a question. An information desk (help desk) is a place people can go when they have a question, such as at an airport, train station, library, store, or exhibition (expo). Frequently displayed as a woman with hand in the air explaining something to someone that asked a question with a hand gesture. This emoji, however, is used much more frequently and in ways different from its official meaning. This emoji is also commonly used at the end of a question, to mean "what do you think", "yeah?", or "am I right?" Many people also use this emoji as a sassy, snarky, unimpressed, uninterested and potentially even bitchy emoji with significant attitude. Used to communicate, "I don't care" or "whatever."" [cite]

bunny vs librarian?

vs wise elder philosopher?

1F480 (skull)

wiki-symbolism


generally skeleton, corpse, death
conquered enemy

x-ray = skull-lightbulb?

common start of murder mystery

cf meat-on-bone? muscled arm, cannibalism
cf grey alien
cf ghost, baby angel

halloween jackolantern
undead zombie
skull and crossbones = pirate

1F47F (imp)

horns but somewhat cute?
prankster
but frownier than 'smiling face with horns':

cf baby angel?
goblin, ogre, alien, skull, ghost

smiling face w/horns:

1F47E (alien monster)

more playful than greys?
some resemble 'Space Invaders' videogame

1F47D (extraterrestrial alien, 'grey')

this image of aliens as threatening, lizardlike 'greys' dates from 1965, alien abduction mythology

(none are colored?)

maybe combine with animals to convey 'alien' gaze

pun 'alienist' = psychologist, alien = lunatic

looks nothing like Spielberg's cute ET

1F47C (baby angel)

wiki-putto
confused with cherubim and Cupid

it seems very risky to associate with living children (eg 'X is a little angel'), or recently dead ('X is in heaven now')
cf dead baby jokes???

cf ghost, princess, baby, heart-with-arrow

1F47B (ghost)

mostly smiling here

presumed to represent a person now dead

to travel like a ghost = quietly, leaving no trace (cf ninjas)

cf skull

spirit
conscience = ghost-cop?

symbolically, any remnant of the past?

visual illusion (other senses too?)

1F47A (Japanese goblin, tengu, snafu)

wiki

dates back to 720
long nose/ crow's beak (cf Joni Mitchell's Crazy Crow Music?)
braggart, prankster, troublemaker
small black cap and a pompommed sash
priestly esthetic

"A traditional Japanese Tengu. A red supernatural avian (bird like) demon or goblin. A mask warn in theater when playing the role of the Tengu. A red mask with extremely long nose, frown, mustache, and eyebrows."

i suggest the english name 'snafu' implying the imaginary spirit that causes bad luck screwups
cf fourleaf clover, leprechaun?

= comedy?

1F479 (Japanese ogre, oni)

wiki

pre-8thC

from unlucky zodiac 'ox tiger' sign in unlucky northeast direction

angry
wearing tiger-skin loincloths and carrying iron clubs (super strength)
horns
can be invoked for protection, or to threaten naughty children
cf boogeyman?

"A traditional Japanese Oni. A red [or blue] demon, troll, ogre, monster, or devil. A mask worn in theater to represent an evil creature, complete with all the essential characteristics of a monster, such as horns, sharp teeth, and dark hair." [cite]

= tragedy?

1F478 (princess)

implied color: pink?
Disney princess (by default?)
acting like a princess = vain, snobbish, spoiled (so, critical/insulting)

crown + girl?
cf bride with veil
princess + dancer = ballerina?

princess + woman's dress, shoes?

Diana, Grace Kelly

1F477 (construction worker)

presumed male (or, pair with woman's hat?)

safety helmet (cf thinking cap? lightbulb = idea) (cf bike helmet, sports helmet, miner's)
builder (or destroyer) verb
repairman (therapist?)
builder of, eg, websites?
chef?

with police officer, two of Village People

under-construction warning sign
pairs with things he's building
tools: hammer, wrench, nut and bolt, knife

pair with shoes = workman's boots?
pair with cattle = cowboy hat?

other headgear: crown, top hat, turban, gua pi mao, police cap, guardsman hat, woman's hat

1F473 (man with turban)

wiki on history of turbans


customary headwear worn by Sikhs or Muslims
'may be shown with or without a beard'

"An man with a turban on his head. Commonly assumed to be a man from India despite the fact that turbans are worn in many other locations. A turban is a type of headwear (headdress) that involves wrapping the head with cloth. A white turban is often associated with wisdom and peace. This emoji may be considered politically incorrect in some locations, such as America. Sometimes used to communicate a mummy, given that part of the mummification process includes wrapping the body in bandages. A popular emoji during Halloween (All Saint's Eve)." [cite]

cancer patient? shaved head??

related headgear: gu pi mao, top hat, crown, woman's hat, bunny ears, policeman's hat, construction worker's helmet, guardsman's hat

1F472 (man with gua pi mao/ skullcap)

(one of the most poorly documented emoji on the web, googling 'gua pi mao' gets the emoji and nothing else)

Is this just the Japanese stereotype of the Chinese man?

The mustache is optional, the age is ambiguous:

Chinese Wikipedia, translated: "Skullcap of Qing Dynasty a men's hat. Legend has it that the source of the Ming created by Kuni cap, taking six and dominate, the world normalized intended. In the Qing Dynasty, is widely popular. Divided into six semi-circular shaped like half a watermelon rind. No eaves, narrow canopies or covered with decorative narrow, mostly black silk, wool or yarn making. The top can be decorated with a variety of colors and materials, the knot in front of nail decorations to identify around. [Signorina in viola.svg] Skullcap is a clothing or fashion -related small works . You can edit or revise expand its content."

neighbor?

retro roleplay?

nemesis?

in Ulysses: Blazes Boylan??? (mustache and straw hat)

Japan:China::Ireland:England??

1F471 (person with blond hair)

really problematic
gender: unspecified or male ('blond' male vs 'blonde' female)
race: white
age: youngish?

bleached blonde = vain, shallow?
natural vs artificial (pretend blond?)
could we nickname it after a stereotypical blonde celebrity? eg Marilyn Monroe?
a classic transvestite? boy-as-girl Holly Woodlawn, girl-as-boy Peter Pan?
a gay icon? Annie Lennox, Ellen Degeneres


because the gender is confused, it will always require clarification

1F470 (bride with veil)

wiki

conventional marriage emphasizes female chastity and submission
vs Statue of Liberty? bunny girls

cf princess, wedding, couple with heart, ring, girl
no special 'groom'?

1F46F (woman with bunny ears)

singular not plural

dancing is not assumed

Playboy bunny [wiki] 1st club in Chicago 29 Feb 1960

selling sexuality (cf love hotel)

sexiness, youth

Tokyo's Playboy Club opened 9 Dec 1976
chain closed 1991

"A woman with bunny ears on her head. Bunny ears are commonly associated with being a "showgirl" or a woman that provides entertainment to others by dancing and singing (putting on a show). The Apple version emoji includes two women dancing and is frequently assumed to mean synchronous dancing or just "dancing" for short. However, given its official name and meaning, Apple most likely intended the woman to be doing the Cancan (Can-can). A potential for miscommunication when sent to an Android, LG, or Samsung smartphone user. What means synchronous dancing to some is displayed and interpreted as costume, showgirl, or playboy bunny to others." [cite]

generalizes to prostitute

1F46E (police officer)

law enforcement
judgment
punishment
local government
army?

guilty conscience? (modal: imagined, soon)

two cops, partners = crime show cliche
cop and magnifying glass = forensics, detection

male stripper? Village People gay costume
'50 Shades of Grey' bdsm sexual roleplay?

cf guardsman, pistol, police car, dome light