Wednesday, October 2, 2019

The Masks Behind Which We Remain Hidden



A mask can be defined as a covering for all or part of the face which is worn as a disguise either to amuse or terrify other people. 




Tyrion Lannister Silicone Mask
Game of Thrones
The Masker



History of Masks



Throughout history, masks have been used for protection, disguise, ceremonial and practical purposes, as well as for entertainment and in the performing arts.





Stone Mask from 7,000 BC
One of the oldest in the world
Musèe "Bible et Terre Sainte"



Funeral Mask Replica
of K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Museo Nacional

de la Máscara
Mexico




While the functions of masks may be magical or religious, many ceremonial and religious masks were created never to be worn but only to serve decorative purposes.





Chokwe Tribal Mask
Photo via Pinterest/Life.Furkan.biz





Masks allow us to be transformed through our imagination into a completely different identity as entertainment or as affirmation of an existing social or spiritual identity. They add mystery and intrigue to our ordinary lives.







Unicorn
via Pinterest
River Dragon Mask "Mystique"
by Draikairion
via Pinterest/Deviant Art



Halloween Masks


Halloween, or All Hallow’s Evening, is celebrated on the evening of October 31st. Originating from an ancient Celtic Festival, the belief that this was the last night for the dead to have their vengeance before moving on, masks and costumes became customary to wear so as not to be recognized and to scare away the evil spirits and prevent them from entering homes.





Minotaur Masquerade Mask
via Pinterest/Pure Costumet



Crow Mask
The Pestilence Doctor
via Pinterest

Sanseverino Francesco







Our Halloween traditions today present an opportunity for an evening of fun, masquerade, cultural identity, and for a little while to just be someone else.






Alice in Wonderland Rabbit
DIY Tutorial

Photo: EPBOT









Gold Butterfly Mask
Higgins Creek













Rhinestone 
Masquerade Mask
via Pinterest

One Curtain Road



















Today’s Halloween masks revolve around nature, fantasy, movies, celebrities, historic figures, animals, and elegance, providing us with the frightening, the fun, and the beautiful.







Cheetah Mask
Hawk Eye Masks






It Stephen King's
Clown Pennywise

via Pinterest

Ebay-Wrus99







































Personal Masquerade


The personal masks, behind which we hide in our everyday lives, typically arise from fear.  Masks often come into play due to insecurity, anger, social pressures, abuse, and unworthiness. Only in removing those masks can we be the person we were meant to become.






Alter Ego - Oil on Canvas
Photo: Vincent Cacciotti






Oscar Wilde once said,
Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”






Visit
for more fun with masks.




Sources:




10 comments :

  1. Well written, thank you

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  2. Such an interesting post and I liked almost all of the masks, you found some real beauties there!
    "Masks often come into play due to insecurity, anger, social pressures, abuse, and unworthiness." Did you know that the surgical masks that are worn in Japan have led to shy people wearing them not to prevent catching or spreading illness, but to hide behind them?

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    Replies
    1. very prophetic in hindsight after large chunks of the world population have been coerced into masking up . Not because of the medical effectiveness, but the repressive aspect . Sign of compliance and adherence to the covid doctrine.

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    2. Wearing a mask which provides the most protection possible while in public indoor spaces for people with high risk factors when Covid is on the rise not only protects oneself but slows the spread of the virus.

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  3. Cat, I did not know that but can see how that could easily come into play especially with so many others wearing them. I'm learning new things here every day. Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

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  4. Thanks so much for visiting!! I haven't seen the hidden name meaining before.

    ReplyDelete