MASKS

What are they & who wears them?

Party Masks – people have enjoyed dressing up in masks for thousands

of years

In the 18th century fashionable people bought their masks from

mask makers

They wore them to parties – to misbehave

So masks became associated with deception

People could pretend they were strangers

Although it’s unlikely that they didn’t

recognise each other!

Venetian Carnival Masks

In Venice they still dress up as they did In the 18th century – for carnival

A much more convincing disguise!

Masks are also used for political protest

Some politicians have tried to ban them!

In the past masks were made from the faces of the dead

Classical masks representing Tragedy

& Comedy

Masks were very important in earlyEuropean theatre

Greek & Roman masks were made from wood – so none have survived. This is carved from stone.

Theatre at Epidaurus – seen from above

Scene from Antigone - by Sophocles

All the parts were played by men – women were forbiddenfrom acting in the plays & even from watching them.

The chorus

Noh Theatre of

Japan

This is an ancient art form which is still practised

The moves - & the masks – are passed on from

generation to generation

Spirit Masks

Masks from Senegal in Africa

Many tribal people believe that the spirits of gods, ancestors and animals can live in a mask

They believe that by putting on a mask they can become that spirit, god or animal the mask represents

The dancer goes into a deep trance…

…and sometimes threatens the crowd.

Mask shop for tourists

Many of these ‘spirit’ masks are now owned by collectors and are worth a

lot of money

Native American owl mask

Native American tribes have similar beliefs

A Seneca Indian’s fertility mask

Mexican girl/fertility

mask

Mexican masks combine Catholicism with pagan pre-

Christian beliefs

Mexican carnival mask (sun god)

Mexican mask for death – or is it life?

Day of the Dead

Burmese masks – displayed in a Buddhist temple

Cambodian masks – of devils and animal spirits

Masks made by children

Arab women in Dubai

Is make-up a mask?

Make-up has been worn for 1,000’s of yrs

Make-up has been worn for thousands of years

Egyptian Queen

Nefertiti

Horus was the eye of protection – a good luck charm

Make-up has been worn by men and women for a long time. Does it hide our true feelings or help us express

them?

And the hijab – does it hide who you are or express it?

Make-up & mask. The

truth or a lie?

Does an actor hide behind a

mask?

Or – does it allow the true self to come out?

? ?

What do you think?

Now isthetime

to findout

!