Festive Masks

Masked festive ceremonies are usually held at certain times of the year. At the beginning or end of the seasons, or at times between the old and new moon when the supernatural world is especially likely to make itself felt, ritual masquerades are traditionally held.

Throughout Europe and the Americas, folk festivals involving masks have alot to do with the changing of seasons. Some of the most famous of these festivals includes the driving away of winter in Austria and parts of Switzerland. Masks are worn in Mexico and Guatemala for storytelling and caricature, such as the "The Dance of the Old Men, The Moors, and The Christians." Also, Eskimos and the Ibos of Nigeria create comic or satiric masks for festivals of merrymaking.

Masks are still frequently used in festivities in the 20th century. Funny, grotesque, or horrible, masks are usually used for good natured fun in festivals. These modern day festivals include mardi gras, halloween, and "masked" dances or balls. Mardi Gras is a christian celebration of "the feast before the fast". Mardi Gras takes place on "Fat Tuesday" the day to over indulge before the beginning of lent on "Ash Wednesday". Masks and costumes are worn to go along with the celebrations of Mardi Gras.

Festive masks take place in The Lord of the Flies when the savages go hunting. The mask of clay on their faces disguises them from prey.

Masks In Music

The history of masks, and the history of music cross vaguely, many times. They have crossed through such things as religions, and rituals. But, masks coming to the fore front of music did not occur up until the last 50 years.

Masks are being seen in artists and bands more and more. They are worn ultimately, to promote the message being presented in the music the artists are performing. But also, the masks make a statement. They are an icon of uniquness and style, changing what is potentially regular music, into a whole different way of listening.

Masks rise up in a variety of different genres. From the dance/pop tunes of Lady GaGa, to the badass white rappers in Hollywood Undead, to the guys in Slipknot who look like they are straight out of a horror film, masks are being shown off by many different forms of musical talents.

Lady Gaga has commented on her style: "When I'm writing music, I'm thinking about the clothes I want to wear on stage. It's all about everything altogether—performance art, pop performance art, fashion. For me, it's everything coming together."

Masks in music takes place in The Lord of the Flies when the boys sing their chant.. "Kill The pig, spill its blood.." while there faces are masked with different colors of clay.

Theatrical Masks

A mask is an article usually worn on the face, used to conceal, protect, perform, or amuse. Masks have been used since 7000 BCE, and have served many different types of people. As you can imagine, masks have been used in theatre.

Masks in theatre originated from Western Theatre, in Athens, Greece. Very well known masks are "The Janus Masks" or also known as the "Comedy Tragedy" masks. These masks were very common in the uprising of theatrical masks. All plays were either comedies, or tragedies, in honor of the god Dionysus.

These days, the detail and care of masks is much greater than it was so many years ago in Western theatre. While the Janus masks are composed of a frown and a smile, there is now a wide variety of masks used in theatre. To create these masks, latex, adhesives, creme, and much more are used to portray a character.

On that note, it is safe to say that masks are used in theatre for a common goal. This common goal consists of portraying a character, either in its emotions or unnatural physical appearance. Masks are used in situations when gestures and physical acting is just not enough.

Theatrical masks are used in The Lord of the Flies when the savages act out the killing of the pig.

Masks in Religion

Religious masks are primatively based on the land, or country of origin they come from. Religions change from country to country, along with what they use the masks for. Generally, religious masks are used to insure a good harvest or a safe hunt or to ward off evil. Over four thousand years ago the early Chinese made terrifying and ferocious clay masks with bristling fangs and gaping mouths which represented demons and monsters, creatures of the spirit world.

A Brief Summary of; Lord of the Flies

A Nobel Prize for Literature winner, this William Golding novel is a classic. An adventurous tale of a group of boys whos plane has crash landed on an unknown island. With no parents, or adults in authority, the boys must fend for themselves. They must overcome "the beast", the controversy of fire, and the fierce savages that most of the boys become. Fending for themselves leads to a bloody climax.

A General Outline

With this blog I hope to inform viewers of the history of masks, and the role of masks as a symbol, in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I will explore in depth, where masks originated from, and what they were used for. I will research religious masks, theatrical masks, masks in music and festive masks. Lord of the Flies has inspired me to reasearch this mysterious art. What mask do you wear?