Masks

This article is about masks fitted on the face as an article of clothing or equipment. See Mask (disambiguation) for other meanings.

Masks in a Guatemalan Market

A teenager reading a book, while wearing a dinosaur mask

The word "mask" came via French masque and either Italian maschera or Spanish máscara. Possible ancestors are Latin (not classical) mascus, masca = "ghost", and Arabic maskharah = "jester", "man in masquerade".

Ceremonial uses

• In ritual, social and religious functions, where participants wear them to represent spiritual or legendary figures. In some cultures it is also believed that the wearing of a mask will allow the wearer to take on the attributes of that mask's representation; i.e., a leopard-mask will induce the wearer to become leopard-like.
• In Mexico and Central America, most towns have both a Christian name and an indigenous name, for example, Santiago Tianguistenco, or Santa Maria Axixitla. All Christian saints have a specific day in the year dedicated to them, and each town typically has a festival on that day, involving a combination of Christian and indigenous tradition. These festivals frequently include parades and street theatre that act out a story. The masks and costumes from these festivals have become collectors items. A mask used in such a festival is known as having been "danzada" or "danced." These hand-made, painted masks are typically made from wood and may use rope, animal horns or teeth, or rubber from tire inner tubes.
• In Africa, especially West Africa, masks also play an important role in traditional ceremonies and theatrical dances. All African masks fall into one of four categories: the ancestor spirit, the mythological hero, the combination of ancestor and hero, and the animal spirit.

Entertainment

• In theatre plays. Use of masks in the dramatic plays in Ancient Greece evolved from the ceremonial purpose. Masks are also a defining characteristic of the Noh theatre of Japan. Some of the masks used in the Noh theatre display illusory facial expressions. The English word "person" came from a Latin word for a theatrical mask: per-sona = "through-sound" = "what the actor's voice comes through". The Ancient Greek word prosōpon = "face" originally meant "in front of the face", i.e. "theatrical mask".
• To provide an aura of mystery with professional wrestlers, particularly in Mexico, as well as entertainers like the Unknown Comic, who always wore a paper bag over his head.
• As a part of carnival celebrations in some parts of the world; Venice is most famous for this.
• As part of the costume of a particular personage like Harlequin or a modern comic book superhero.
• Latex masks are used in cinema as part of elaborate character makeup

To prevent recognition

• Criminals often use masks to avoid identification when they commit crimes. In many jurisidictions, it is an additional criminal offense to wear a mask while committing a crime; it is also often a crime to wear a mask at public assemblies and demonstrations.
• Occasionally a witness for the prosecution appears in court in a mask to avoid being recognized by associates of the accused.
• Participants in a black bloc at protests often wear masks, usually bandannas, to avoid recognition, and to protect against any riot control agents that may potentially be used.

Protective

A softball catcher wearing a mask for protection.

Protective masks have these functions:

• Providing a supply of breathable air or other oxygen-containing gas.
• Protecting the face against flying objects or dangerous environments, while allowing vision.

Many masks have both functions.
This category merges into the categories of goggles and protective helmets and visors.
Here are included:

• A cloth tied over the mouth and nose as a dust filter.
• Filter masks.
• Surgical masks.
• Gas masks.
• The familiar eyes-and-nose diving mask.
• Breathing masks connected to some industrial breathing sets. These are usually fullface.
• Breathing masks connected to some underwater breathing sets. These are usually fullface. See this link and this link for examples.

• Oxygen masks worn by high-altitude pilots.
• Oxygen masks used as part of medical oxygen resuscitation kit.
• Anaesthetic masks used in surgery in hospitals.
• CPR masks used in Cardiopulminary Resuscitation
• Sport masks such as fencing masks or ice hockey and American football goalkeeper's masks.
• Ski masks.
• Welder's masks.
• The faceplates of spacesuit helmets.

Of masks that supply breathable air, some also cover the eyes (full-face); and some only cover the mouth and nose, and the wearer must also wear goggles.

Punitive

• a 'shameful' mask (Schandmaske in German) is devised for public humiliation; a popular reduced form are donkey ears for a bad ('dumb') pupil or student
• particularly uncomfortable types, such as an iron mask, are fit as devices for torture or corporal punishment

Other types

• A "life mask" is a plaster cast of a face, used as a model for making a painting or sculpture.
  • A "death mask" is the same but taken from the face of a recently dead model. Death masks were very popular in the Western World during the 18th and 19th century.

Both methods can preserve a realistic three-dimensional portrait.

• A facial mask (or facial in short) is a temporary mask, not solid, used in cosmetics or therapy for skin treatment

External links

• The Secret of Masks
• International Mask and Carnival Museum of Binche
• The Noh Mask Effect: A Facial Expression Illusion

See also

• Balaclava
• blindfold
• Chicken suit
• headgear
• hood
• list of hats and headgear

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Mask