Process
Research: Masks from Around the World
Directions: Follow the links below to answer the following questions:
- Why do human beings from varied cultures and times create masks?
- What purposes do masks have to people using them?
- How do color, design, and expression work together to create an effect?
- How is culture and identity linked to masks?
- What role do masks play in creating a sense of the internal and external worlds? Earthly/Spiritual?
- How do masks work in some cultures as tools for transformation?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81za2GhQbuU
Video: Masks of the World
African Masks: People and Purpose
Masks of India: Celebrating Culture
Masks: Internal and External Worlds
Every man lives in two worlds, the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals, and religion. The external is that complex of devices, techniques, mechanisms, and instrumentalities by means of which we live. Our problem today is that we have allowed the internal to become lost to the external.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Create a Mask!
- Design a mask on paper. Think about expression, style, color, and meaning.
- Use a balloon for your paper mache base
- Cut strips of newspaper
- Mix 1 cup of flour with 2 cups of water
- Layer strips onto balloon (about 4 layers)
- Create any features that you wish to add (eyebrows, nose, mouth)
- Allow to dry overnight
- Decorate with paint and objects
Write a Paragraph
Craft one tight paragraph explaining how the mask reflects some aspect of who you are.
Does the mask reveal or hide? Does it represent who you are inside or outside?
Does your mask utilize symbolic color or images?
Compose a Poem
Write a poem relating to your mask.
How do we wear masks in the world? What is essential to a human being's identity? How do we learn to hide our true selves/reveal our true selves? Masks can be symbols of transformation and power. Write a poem which captures the idea of the inner world versus the external world.