A mask is an item usually worn on the face for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment. They are usually worn on the face, but can also be placed elsewhere on the wearer's body.
More generally in art history, and sculpture in particular, a "mask" is the term for a round, mask holder singapore unmodeled, bodyless face (which becomes a "head"), but as it appears, for example, in a bas-relief.
The word "mask" first appeared in English in the 1530s and is derived from the Medieval French masquerade, meaning "to hide or protect the face", from the Italian masquera, and from the Medieval Latin maska It comes from "masks, ghosts and nightmares". The origin of the word is unknown, probably derived from the Arabic mashara مَسْخَرَۃٌ "buffoon" and the verb sakhira "to ridicule". However, it may also come from Provençal mascarar "to black (the face)" (or the related Catalan mascarar, Old French mascurer). This in turn is of uncertain origin – perhaps from a Germanic source akin to English "mesh", but perhaps from mask- "black", a borrowing from a pre-Indo-European language.[2] 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", while the Arabic "maskharat" – referring to the buffoonery which is possible only by disguising the face – would be based on these Spanish roots.[3] Other related forms are Hebrew masecha= "mask"; Arabic maskhara مَسْخَرَ = "he ridiculed, he mocked", masakha مَسَخَ = "he transfomed"
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 many dramatic traditions including the theatre of ancient Greece, the classical Noh drama of Japan (14th century to present), the traditional Lhamo drama of Tibet, Talchum in Korea, and the Topeng dance of Indonesia, masks were or are typically worn by all the performers, with several different types of mask used for different types of character. In ancient Rome, the word persona meant "mask". Continue reading...
