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Masks are extremely popular and have been so for many years, especially at carnivals and masquerade balls. They are also common costume accessories at Mardi Gras. There are a variety of styles of masks designed to complement every type of costume. Most masks are made using the papier mâché technique, the traditional... more »
Humans have always had a fascination with disguises, and it is no wonder that the masquerade mask has sparked our imaginations for so many years. In drama, books, television and films, it has stood as a symbol for mystery, deception and romance. Yet it does not entirely belong to the realm of fiction. Whether at carnivals and balls,... more »
Modern theater as an art is often represented by two masks: a smiling comedy mask representing Thalia, the muse of comedy, and a frowning tragedy mask representing Melpomene, the muse of tragedy. These masks have their roots in the open air theater of ancient Athens, where they helped actors project broad emotions for large crowds... more »
The hauntingly beautiful masks of the Carnival masquerade festivities of Venice, Italy, have a history that dates to the thirteenth century. The story of the masks from the Italian city features war and religion and today reflects a new attitude of the Venetian people. more »
If you don't have room in your suitcase to bring back a Venetian mask from your trip to Italy, or are worried about it getting crushed in transit, buying online from a reliable source which offers worldwide shipping is a great alternative. Likewise, for those who want to get an authentic Venetian mask without ever leaving the comforts... more »
Do you love to attend parties but are never sure how to throw one? No need to be intimidated....
Dating back to the days of ancient Greece, Comedy/Tragedy masks have played a long and important role in the development of theater. Comedy masks... more »
African masks complement most any earth-tone or neutral color scheme even when animal print or other African artifacts are not present in the... more »
At a masquerade ball, the mask is crucial, and is the defining feature of the ball. The kinds of masks that are worn to masquerade balls vary by... more »
Clay African masks are a popular wall or desk decoration, instantly bringing a feel of Africa (via the modernist art tradition known as... more »
Whether you have been single for a while or you are a new "table of one," Valentine's Day does not have to be a miserable occasion. Why not throw... more »
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, concealment, performance, or amusement. 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 wearers body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing. The Living Tradition of Yupik Masks; Anne Feinup-Riordan; University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1996; ISBN 10-0295975016
Etymology
The word "mask" came via French masque and either Italian maschera or Spanish máscara. Possible ancestors are Latin (not classical) mascus, masca "ghost"; Hebrew masecha "mask"; Arabic maskharah مَسْخَرَۃٌ "jester", "man in masquerade", maskhara مَسْخَرَ "he ridiculed, he mocked", masakha مَسَخَ "he transfomed" (transitive).
Masks in performance
Throughout the world masks are used for their expressive power as a feature of masked performance - both ritually and in various theatre traditions. The ritual and theatrical definitions of mask usage frequently overlap and merge but still provide a useful basis for categorisation. The image of juxtaposed Comedy and Tragedy masks are widely used to represent the Performing Arts, and specifically Drama.
In ancient Rome the word persona meant a mask; it also referred to an individual who had full Roman citizenship. A citizen could demonstrate his or her lineage through imagines, death masks of the ancestors. These were wax casts kept in a lararium, the family shrine. Rites of passage, such as initiation of young members of the family, or funerals, were carried out at the shrine under the watch of the ancestral masks. At funerals professional actors would wear these masks to perform deeds of the lives of the ancestors, Ritual, Masks, and Sacrifice; Subhash Kak, Studies in Humanities and Social Services vol.11, Indian Institute of Advanc read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask
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