How does Society Use Masks?

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Darren Coombs 10B                02/05/2007

“How does Society Use Masks?”

Mask can be used in many different contexts and in many different ways. In this essay I plan to portray in particular “how society uses masks”. In the dictionary a mask is described as:

  1. A covering worn on the face to conceal one's identity, as:
  1. A covering, as of cloth, that has openings for the eyes, entirely or partly conceals the face, and is worn especially at a masquerade ball.
  2. A grotesque or comical representation of a face, worn especially to frighten or amuse, as at Halloween.
  3. A facial covering worn for ritual.
  4. A figure of a head worn by actors in Greek and Roman drama to identify a character or trait and to amplify the voice.
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I believe that there are two main things that divide the word mask, the literal and metaphoric meaning. Firstly the literal meaning, many people in society wear masks for many different reasons. For instance some people wear them as part of the culture of religion, where as others wear them for fun. In some instances people wear them to enhance an image or effect that they are attempting to portray.

 Many films and Theatre Companies have used masks or even based a film on masks. For example, the film “The Mask” featuring Jim Carrey was based upon a mask, ...

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