The Many Faces of the WorldThe Many Faces of the World

MASKSMASKS What can they tell us about the people who made them?What can they tell us about the people who made them?

Masks are a universal cultural Masks are a universal cultural link being found in most link being found in most

nations all over the world. nations all over the world. Masks connect us through the Masks connect us through the commonality of the power of commonality of the power of the human imagination. They the human imagination. They form a silent language which form a silent language which

is understood all over the is understood all over the world and which defines the world and which defines the

essence of human expressions essence of human expressions and emotions at various and emotions at various

levels- spiritual, religious, levels- spiritual, religious, and material.and material.

While it is perfectly While it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy masks acceptable to enjoy masks from many cultures as rich from many cultures as rich colorful works of art, one colorful works of art, one

can gain a deeper can gain a deeper understanding by understanding by

considering how masks considering how masks are used in a particular are used in a particular

culture and the meanings culture and the meanings or traditions that wearing or traditions that wearing

the masks brings.the masks brings.

Masks were used before Masks were used before recorded history. On a recorded history. On a cave wall in southern cave wall in southern France is the 15,000-France is the 15,000-year-old drawing of a year-old drawing of a masked dancer wearing masked dancer wearing animal horns. Ice age animal horns. Ice age hunter probably wore hunter probably wore this mask to this mask to communicate with the communicate with the spirit world they spirit world they believed in to help them believed in to help them find food. find food.

In general, masks have several In general, masks have several important social functions: (1) important social functions: (1) to conceal one’s identity (as in to conceal one’s identity (as in masquerade party); (2) to masquerade party); (2) to frighten or amuse (as in frighten or amuse (as in Halloween); (3) for ritual (as in Halloween); (3) for ritual (as in religious or magic ceremonies) religious or magic ceremonies) or (4) for performances ( as in or (4) for performances ( as in actors and dancers). Most actors and dancers). Most nations all over the world have nations all over the world have a cultural past which includes a cultural past which includes masks. masks.

There are three basic types of There are three basic types of masks: the helmet mask, which masks: the helmet mask, which covers the wearer’s entire head; the covers the wearer’s entire head; the face mask, which covers the face; face mask, which covers the face; and the headdress mask, which sits and the headdress mask, which sits on top pf the head.on top pf the head.

Although today masks are Although today masks are worn mostly for fun, some worn mostly for fun, some have serious uses. The surgeon have serious uses. The surgeon wears a mask to protect her wears a mask to protect her from getting germs, the soldier from getting germs, the soldier a gas mask to protect him from a gas mask to protect him from poisonous fumes; and a poisonous fumes; and a football or hockey player football or hockey player wears one to avoid injury to wears one to avoid injury to his face. his face.

A mask may also be A mask may also be any 2-d or 3-d any 2-d or 3-d representation of a representation of a face, like an Egyptian face, like an Egyptian mummy’s face mummy’s face depicting the face of depicting the face of the deceased. One of the deceased. One of the most famous is the the most famous is the death mask of the boy death mask of the boy king, the Pharaoh king, the Pharaoh Tutankhamen.Tutankhamen.

A mask can also be make-up that

covers and disguises the face

like that of a “mime” or and

actor in Japanese kabuki theatre.

Here are some of the many masks used in different Here are some of the many masks used in different parts of the world and the reasons for wearing them. parts of the world and the reasons for wearing them.

UnitedUnited States States of of AmericaAmerica

Mardi Gras – French for Mardi Gras – French for Fat Tuesday, a Fat Tuesday, a celebration held annually celebration held annually in New Orleans, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Parades, Louisiana. Parades, dances, and parties mark dances, and parties mark the occasion.the occasion.

Native Americans Native Americans have a rich history in have a rich history in mask making. They mask making. They wore masks in many wore masks in many of their ceremonies. of their ceremonies.

MMaasskkss aarree uusseedd iinn tthhee mmoottiioonn

Halloween is Halloween is celebrated in the celebrated in the USA like in many USA like in many other countries. other countries. Masks are a big part Masks are a big part of Halloween.of Halloween.

AFRICAAFRICAAfrican masks often African masks often represent the spirits represent the spirits of dead ancestors. of dead ancestors.

Masked family Masked family members act out members act out special rituals to special rituals to pass on sacred pass on sacred

teachings from one teachings from one generation to the generation to the

next. next.

Tribal gatherings, festivals and other ceremonies are also occasions Tribal gatherings, festivals and other ceremonies are also occasions for which masks are worn.for which masks are worn.

ItalyItaly

These masks and costumes can be traced back to the These masks and costumes can be traced back to the commedia commedia del artedel arte of the 16 of the 16thth century. It is a traveling show of musicians, century. It is a traveling show of musicians,

acrobats, actors, and poets. acrobats, actors, and poets.

SikkimSikkimThis mask is from the This mask is from the Himilayan country of Sikkim. Himilayan country of Sikkim. It represents the Lord of the It represents the Lord of the Dead, Mahakalla, who is Dead, Mahakalla, who is featured at the New Year’s featured at the New Year’s Festivals. As in other cultures Festivals. As in other cultures that have such a character, that have such a character, Mahakalla took the souls of Mahakalla took the souls of the dead from the world of the dead from the world of the living to the world of the the living to the world of the dead. By acting out these dead. By acting out these myths each year, adults pass myths each year, adults pass the story on to young people. the story on to young people.

GreeceGreeceThese are the masks of These are the masks of

comedy and tragedy. They comedy and tragedy. They are used to symbolize the are used to symbolize the

modern theatre but modern theatre but originated in the Greece originated in the Greece

islands, where theatre was a islands, where theatre was a very important part of life very important part of life

thousands of years ago. All thousands of years ago. All major seasonal festivals major seasonal festivals

were occasions for masked were occasions for masked performances. The Greeks performances. The Greeks

used the masks for a simple used the masks for a simple reason: to enable the reason: to enable the

audience to see characters audience to see characters on stage more easily.on stage more easily.

COMEDY & TRAGEDYCOMEDY & TRAGEDY

BALIBALIWhen a native of Bali, When a native of Bali,

a tiny island in the a tiny island in the South Pacific, is South Pacific, is

performing a sacred performing a sacred temple dance, it is temple dance, it is

believed that the gods believed that the gods being portrayed are being portrayed are

attending the attending the ceremonyceremony. .

INDIAINDIAIn northeastern India there is In northeastern India there is

a three day spring dance a three day spring dance festival held in honor of the festival held in honor of the gods Shiva and Surya. Shiva gods Shiva and Surya. Shiva represented by this mask, is represented by this mask, is the creator and the destroyer the creator and the destroyer of the universe; Surya is the of the universe; Surya is the goddess of the sun. Stories goddess of the sun. Stories about the gods are acted out about the gods are acted out in ballet like dance dramas.in ballet like dance dramas.

JAPANJAPANThe beautifully hand carved The beautifully hand carved

wooden masks of Japan’s wooden masks of Japan’s theatre were first used about theatre were first used about

600 years ago in religious 600 years ago in religious plays that were only seen by plays that were only seen by priests and nobility. Today priests and nobility. Today

anyone can attend the plays. anyone can attend the plays. Artists carve the delicate Artists carve the delicate masks out of lightweight masks out of lightweight wood. Old people, gods, wood. Old people, gods,

goddesses and goblins are goddesses and goblins are among the characters in the among the characters in the

theatre. theatre.

CANADACANADAThis false face mask is an example This false face mask is an example of a kind of mask made by the of a kind of mask made by the Native Americans of what is now Native Americans of what is now Canada and United States. It was Canada and United States. It was used to chase away the evil spirits used to chase away the evil spirits that were believed to have entered a that were believed to have entered a person’s body and made the person person’s body and made the person sick. The design of the mask was sick. The design of the mask was carved removed without killing the carved removed without killing the tree. It was thought that the spirit of tree. It was thought that the spirit of the tree would enter the mask and the tree would enter the mask and make it more powerful. Horsehair make it more powerful. Horsehair hairs and animal teeth were hairs and animal teeth were sometimes added to the mask.sometimes added to the mask.

MEXICOMEXICOThroughout Mexico, The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), is Throughout Mexico, The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), is

celebrated on November 1celebrated on November 1stst and 2 and 2ndnd each year. each year.

In a Halloween –like spirit of fun, the souls of the dead In a Halloween –like spirit of fun, the souls of the dead are invited to return to earth to enjoy their family and are invited to return to earth to enjoy their family and

friends again. People in parades wear masks.friends again. People in parades wear masks.

The use of masks The use of masks today still get our today still get our

attention, even attention, even though the focus though the focus has gone from has gone from the performing the performing

arts and religious arts and religious ceremonies to the ceremonies to the

handicrafts handicrafts market. market.

However, whether it is made of wood or metal or However, whether it is made of wood or metal or fabric- the mask still continues to be a source of fabric- the mask still continues to be a source of mystery and fascination – and gives us a way to mystery and fascination – and gives us a way to

escape from our busy everyday lives that are escape from our busy everyday lives that are seeped in technology and automation.seeped in technology and automation.