The Importance of Masks Different Types of Masks, How They are Used and Their Importance in Various Cultures

The History of Masks A mask is a form of disguise. It is an object that is frequently worn over or in front of the face to hide the identity of a person and by its own features to establish another being. This essential characteristic of hiding and revealing personalities or moods is common to all masks. As cultural objects they have been used throughout the world in all periods since the Stone Age and have been as varied in appearance as in their use and symbolism. A mask is normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer's body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.

Masks in Cultures Masks exist in almost every culture and have had huge historic significance in both rituals performed by cultures and for entertainment, or art purposes. There is some debate about where where the term “mask” came from, but somet thoughts include it coming from the 1530s, from Middle French masque, which means "covering to hide or guard the face", derived in turn from Italian maschera, from Medieval Latin masca "mask, specter, nightmare". Alternatively, one German author claims the word "mask" is originally derived from the Spanish más que la cara (literally, "more than the face" or "added face"), which evolved to "máscara“.

This stone mask from the pre-ceramic neolithic period dates to 7000 BCE and is probably the oldest mask in the world (Musée de la Bible et de la Terre Sainte) Wherever the word came from, masks have been around for thousands of years and are still popular around the world today. We can’t look at every culture’s masks, but we will focus on a few, distinct styles of masks in more depth. Yup'ik shaman using a mask to exorcise evil spirits from a sick boy, c.1890 Various Balinese topengs (dance masks).

Venetian Masks Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnevale, but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status. The mask would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention. It was useful for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal, others personal, such as romantic encounters

Venetian masks are characterized by their ornate design, featuring bright colours such as gold or silver and the use of complex decorations in the baroque style. Many designs of Venetian masks stem from Commedia dell'arte. They can be full-face masks (ex. the bauta) or eye masks (ex. the Columbina)

Bauta Masks Bauta (sometimes referred as baùtta) is a mask which covers the whole face, this was a traditional piece of art, with a stubborn chin line and no mouth. The mask has a square jaw line often pointed and tilted upwards to enable the wearer to talk, eat and drink easily without having to remove the mask thereby preserving their anonymity. The Bauta was often accompanied by a red cape and a tricorn hat. In the 18th century, the Bauta had become a standardized society mask and disguise regulated by the Venetian government. It was obligatory to wear it at certain political decision-making events, when all citizens were required to act anonymously as peers.

Columbina The Columbina (also known as Columbine and Columbino) is a half mask often highly decorated with gold, silver, crystals and feathers. It is held up to the face by a baton or tied with ribbon as with most other Venetian masks. The columbine was popularized by an early actress in the Commedia dell'arte of the same name. It is said it was designed for her, because she did not wish to have her beautiful face covered completely.

Medico Della Peste The Medico Della Peste with its long beak is one of the most bizarre and recognizable of the Venetian masks. The striking design has a macabre history originating from 17th century French physician Charles de Lorme who adopted the mask, together with other sanitary precautions while treating plague victims. The mask is white consisting of a hollow beak and round eye holes covered with crystal discs, creating a bespectacled effect. Today, the masks are often more decorative. The doctors who followed de Lorme's example wore the usual black hat and long black cloak as well as the mask, white gloves and a stick (to move patients without having to come into physical contact). They hoped these precautions would prevent them contracting the disease. Those who wear the 'plague doctor' mask often wear the associated clothing of the beak doctor costume. The popularity of the Medico della Peste among carnivale celebrants can be seen as a memento mori.

Japanese Masks Japanese masks are part of a very old and highly sophisticated and stylized theatrical tradition. Although the roots are in prehistoric myths and cults, they have developed into refined art forms. The oldest masks are the gigaku. The form no longer exists, and was probably a type of dance presentation. The bugaku developed from this – a complex dance-drama that used masks with moveable jaws.

The nō or noh mask evolved from the gigaku and bugaku and are acted entirely by men. The masks are worn throughout very long performances and are consequently very light. The nō mask is the supreme achievement of Japanese mask-making. Nō masks represent gods, men, women, madmen and devils, and each category has many sub-divisions

Kabuki Kyōgen are short farces with their own masks, and accompany the tragic nō plays. Kabuki is the theatre of modern Japan, rooted in the older forms, but in this form masks are replaced by painted faces

African Masks There are a wide variety of masks used in Africa. In West Africa, masks are used in masquerades that form part of religious ceremonies enacted to communicate with spirits and ancestors. Many African masks represent animals. Some African tribes believe that the animal masks can help them communicate with the spirits who live in forests or open savannas. Wooden masks, which might either be human or animal or of mythical creatures, are one of the most commonly found forms of art in western Africa. In their original contexts, ceremonial masks are used for celebrations, initiations, crop harvesting, and war preparation. The masks are worn by a chosen or initiated dancer. During the mask ceremony the dancer goes into deep trance, and during this state of mind, he "communicates" with his ancestors. The masks can be worn in three different ways: vertically covering the face: as helmets, encasing the entire head, and as crest, resting upon the head, which was commonly covered by material as part of the disguise. Fang mask used for the ngil ceremony, an inquisitorial search for sorcerers. Wood, Gabon, 19th century.

African Masks continued African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possess the wearer. Most African masks are made with wood, and can be decorated with ivory, animal hair, plant fibers (such as raffia), pigments (like kaolin), stones, and semi-precious gems also are included in the masks. African art constitutes one of the most diverse legacies on earth. Though many casual observers tend to generalize "traditional" African art, the continent is full of people, societies, and civilizations, each with a unique visual special culture. Despite this diversity, there are some unifying artistic themes when considering the totality of the visual culture from the continent of Africa.

Themes in African Art Themes in African Art Emphasis on the human figure Visual Abstraction Emphasis on sculpture Emphasis on performing arts Nonlinear scaling: Often a small part of an African design will look similar to a larger part, such as diamonds or circles in varying sizes. This is referred to this as “dynamic symmetry.”

African Masks Re-realized In the early 20th Century, artists like Pablo Picasso and Andre Derain were inspired by the bold abstract designs that they discovered in African tribal masks. They collected and used these works of art to influence their own style. In effect, they used African culture to refresh the tired tradition of figure painting in European art. As a result, we now tend to admire the bold design and abstract patterns of African masks through European eyes. We appreciate them as exhibits on museum walls, cut off from their original meaning and magical power. However, this is not how they were designed to be viewed. African masks should be seen as part of a ceremonial costume. They are used in religious and social events to represent the spirits of ancestors or to control the good and evil forces in the community. They come to life, possessed by their spirit in the performance of dance, and are enhanced by both the music and atmosphere of the occasion. Some combine human and animal features to unite man with his natural environment. This bond with nature is of great importance to the African and through the ages masks have always been used to express this relationship. Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907

Other Types of Masks Egyptian funerary masks First Nations and Inuit masks Indian masks Middle Eastern Masks Australian aboriginal masks Indonesian masks Looks up a culture! They probably have their own types of masks!