Masks have lots of deeper meaning across many different cultures and time periods. In some situations, they were used in war to frighten and intimidate, while in other situations they were in festivals and religious rituals. One example of the usage of masks mentioned in the reading is the Hopi people. They used masks to represent the spirits that would help them if they were called upon. Men of the tribe often wore masks representing these spirits and performed ceremonies in the different villages, often calling on the spirits, called Katsinas, for help provide for rain and agricultural aid mostly.
For this project we incorporated masks that we made form plaster and then painted. In the project we were supposed to explore the many possible meanings and uses of the mask. Some of the meanings provided we were to explore included: Rite of passage, festival of renewal, gender, theater, and offense/defense. I was particularly drawn to festival of renewal and offense/defense. The offense/defense was interesting because they were worn in war times to intimidate and signify sides. I play soccer and we use our jerseys to accomplish that, so I was interested in that topic. However, I chose to do the festival of renewal, and make the process of removing the mask one of renewal.
For my image, I painted my mask to be happy and joyful, seemingly put together and normal. This represented the societal pressure we experience to always be presentable and sociable. Specifically at Wheaton, there is pressure to always be happy and loving life, because we are Christians and supposedly should have everything together. I have found this Wheaton culture to force people behind false pretenses in order to hide their struggles and uncomfortable sin. In the image, I am in the shower washing away the mask. This represents cleaning myself of the expectation that I have to be perfect. Sometimes I struggle with sin, and I'm struggling through life and school, and this image shows the desire to wash away the mask and be real with those around me. It's a festival of renewal because I am ridding myself of societal pressures and becoming renewed.
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