MASKS AROUND THE WORLD

AFRICA• Village and social ceremonies

• Weddings

• Funerals

• Coming of age

• Represents spirits

• can be human, animal, spirit or combination of all

• ask for spirit blessings and protections

• Tells stories and impart wisdom

West Africans use Anasi to tell many stories of why things are the way they are. The first Anansi story was told over a thousand years ago Legend says ....

“Once upon a time, a long time ago, Anansi visited the Sky God. The Sky God liked him so much that he gave

Anansi, and only Anansi, the gift of storytelling so that Anansi could spin stories about life on earth.”

ANASI SPIDER MASK

Panu Mask of Gabon Lulua Mask of Congo

CEREMONIAL MASKS

Lulua Mask of Congo

• ceremonies

• given as gifts, and each one was hand crafted.

• They have a special charm

• created in the likeness of an animal

• represented ideas such as spirits, status, and characteristics

• Portrait masks

• These masks were modeled after a certain person. This type of mask would depict the status of the person who the mask was modeled after.

MASKS OF NATIVE AMERICANS

CERAMIC WARRIOR MASKS OF BOLIVIA

The pride of the Boruca people is their ornately carved, wooden masks. The masks come in many different varieties and styles, but authentic

Boruca masks demonstrate an expert craft, passed down for centuries. In addition to the two most common styles are the Diablo and Ecological,

masks are made to look like jaguars, birds or a combination of the styles.

BORUCA MASKS FROM COSTA RICA

Amazon Native Wapuri Mask of Peru

MASKS OF POLYNESIA

MASK FROM THE TORRES STRAIGHT ISLANDS

The long snout is constructed from turtle shell with teeth and ears made from wood. White pigeon

feathers are attached to a triangular bamboo projection.

Cassowary feathers, coconut fibre, cloth strips and shells hang from

the mask.

MASKS OF CHINA praying to them for the power to

overcome disasters and protect their life.

Masks served as a carrier of such wishes.

communicating with gods, bringing blessings, driving away ghosts and warding

off diseases

sacrificial

INDIA• to evoke certain reactions in the

beholder

• awe of the god represented

• fear in an enemy

• ecstasy in possession or trance

• to cure disease in men, cattle, and crops by impersonating the supernatural power

• to represent religious totems

• to emphasize social wrongs by enacting the role of wrongdoer or by satire

MASKS OF INDIA

MASK IN THE U.S.

When and why do we use masks?

• Halloween

• Mardi Gras

• Circus

• Parades

• Costume parties

People wearing masks are actually pretending to be the character.

Masks, like costumes, help people to tell stories by providing the audience with a way to tell the

characters apart.

MAKE YOUR OWN MASK!!