Friday, February 7, 2014

Guest Post from Bernice!

There are many kinds of masks around the world. Some masks are funny looking, horrible or scary masks. They are used in plays, at Halloween, at parties, and in rituals. Masks represent a monster, a famous person, a particular age, and also there is random ones. Masks are used to make people laugh, to scare them, and also to cover an identity. They are used by almost any kind of people from children to elderly people.


The masks around the world are used differently. In Africa they are used in shamanic rituals and as cultural props for initiation into puberty and an adult role in village society. In North America there is a mask that the Inuit of Alaska made masks to honor their dead, as well as ceremonial masks for shamans. In Latin America the masks express themselves with color and a wide variety of materials such as fur, papier mache, leather and molded metal. In Oceania aboriginal masks are present in initiation ceremonies.

Masks have been used for a long time now. They are used for many reasons as some of them were mentioned before. Every place has its own reason. Many people don't realize that masks are an important part of culture.

The types of masks that are common are the theater masks, masquerade masks, and half-face mask. The theater masks focus an audience's attention on the actor's movements and speech, and the design can amplify sound waves and reach more people during a performance. The masquerade masks also known as Venetian masks are standard in balls. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and formats for men and women. They add elements of mystery and glamour to parties. The half-face mask is the most common type which covers only the eye area. I would like to go to a party that uses a half-face masks, but I haven’t to one.
Berenice S

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