Mask

Masks in a Guatemalan Market A teenager reading a book, while wearing a dinosaur mask

A mask is a piece of material or kit worn on the face. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes.

The word "mask" came via French masque and either Italian maschera or Spanish máscara. Possible ancestors are Latin (not classical) mascus, masca = "ghost", and Arabic maskharah = "jester", "man in masquerade".

The 5000-year-old Mask of Warka is believed to be the oldest surviving mask.

Ceremonial uses

Golden masks. Excavated in Kalmakareh, Luristan, Iran. First half of first Millennium BC. National Museum of Iran.

*In ritual, social and religious functions, where participants wear them to represent spiritual or legendary figures. In some cultures it is also believed that the wearing of a mask will allow the wearer to take on the attributes of that mask's representation; i.e., a leopard-mask will induce the wearer to become leopard-like.

In Mexico and Central America, most towns have both a Christian name and an indigenous name, for example, Santiago Tianguistenco, or Santa Maria Axixitla. All Christian saints have a specific day in the year dedicated to them, and each town typically has a festival on that day, involving a combination of Christian and indigenous tradition. These festivals frequently include parades and street theatre that act out a story. The masks and costumes from these festivals have become collectors items. A mask used in such a festival is known as having been "danzada" or "danced." These hand-made, painted masks are typically made from wood and may use rope, animal horns or teeth, or rubber from tire inner tubes.
In Africa, especially West Africa, masks also play an important role in traditional ceremonies and theatrical dances. All African masks fall into one of four categories: the ancestor spirit, the mythological hero, the combination of ancestor and hero, and the animal spirit.

Entertainment

In theatre plays. Use of masks in the dramatic plays in Ancient Greece evolved from the ceremonial purpose. Masks are also a defining characteristic of the Noh theatre of Japan. Some of the masks used in the Noh theatre display illusory facial expressions. The English word "person" came from a Latin word for a theatrical mask, persona, which itself came from the Etruscan word for a mask, phersu. The Ancient Greek word prosōpon = "face" originally meant "in front of the face", i.e. "theatrical mask".
To provide an aura of mystery with professional wrestlers, particularly in Mexico, as well as entertainers like the Unknown Comic, who always wore a paper bag over his head.
As a part of carnival celebrations in some parts of the world; Venice is most famous for this.
As part of the costume of a particular personage like Harlequin or a modern comic book superhero.
Latex masks are used in cinema as part of elaborate character makeup

To prevent recognition

Criminals often use masks to avoid identification when they commit crimes. In many jurisidictions, it is an additional criminal offense to wear a mask while committing a crime; it is also often a crime to wear a mask at public assemblies and demonstrations.
Occasionally a witness for the prosecution appears in court in a mask to avoid being recognized by associates of the accused.
Participants in a black bloc at protests often wear masks, usually bandannas, to avoid recognition, and to protect against any riot control agents that may potentially be used.

Protective

A softball catcher wearing a mask for protection.

Protective masks have these functions:

Providing a supply of breathable air or other oxygen-containing gas.
Protecting the face against flying objects or dangerous environments, while allowing vision.

Many masks have both functions.
This category merges into the categories of goggles and protective helmets and visors.
Here are included:

A cloth tied over the mouth and nose as a dust filter.
Filter masks.
Surgical masks.
Gas masks.
The familiar eyes-and-nose diving mask.
Breathing masks connected to some industrial breathing sets. These are usually fullface.
Breathing masks connected to some underwater breathing sets. These are usually fullface. See this link and this link for examples.

Oxygen masks worn by high-altitude pilots.
Oxygen masks used as part of medical oxygen resuscitation kit.
Anaesthetic masks used in surgery in hospitals.
CPR masks used in Cardiopulminary Resuscitation
Sport masks such as fencing masks or ice hockey and American football goalkeeper's masks.
Ski masks.
Welder's masks.
The faceplates of spacesuit helmets.

Of masks that supply breathable air, some also cover the eyes (full-face); and some only cover the mouth and nose, and the wearer must also wear goggles.

Punitive

a 'shameful' mask (Schandmaske in German) is devised for public humiliation; a popular reduced form are donkey ears for a bad ('dumb') pupil or student
particularly uncomfortable types, such as an iron mask, are fit as devices for torture or corporal punishment

Other types

A "life mask" is a plaster cast of a face, used as a model for making a painting or sculpture.
- A "death mask" is the same but taken from the face of a recently dead model. Death masks were very popular in the Western World during the 18th and 19th century.

Both methods can preserve a realistic three-dimensional portrait.

A facial mask (or facial in short) is a temporary mask, not solid, used in cosmetics or therapy for skin treatment

External links

The Secret of Masks
International Mask and Carnival Museum of Binche
The Noh Mask Effect: A Facial Expression Illusion

This page about Mask includes information from a Wikipedia article.
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Both methods can preserve a realistic three-dimensional portrait. Additionally a name for several anime characters:. Of masks that supply breathable air, some also cover the eyes (full-face); and some only cover the mouth and nose, and the wearer must also wear goggles. Also a Japanese family name:. Many masks have both functions.
This category merges into the categories of goggles and protective helmets and visors.
Here are included:. Mizuno can refer to different articles including:. Protective masks have these functions:. Suzy Mizuno (Suzume Mizuno) in Zatch Bell! (Konjiki no Gash Bell!!).

In some cultures it is also believed that the wearing of a mask will allow the wearer to take on the attributes of that mask's representation; i.e., a leopard-mask will induce the wearer to become leopard-like. Haruka Mizuno, a character in Tokyo Daigaku Monogatari. *In ritual, social and religious functions, where participants wear them to represent spiritual or legendary figures. Ami Mizuno (also known as "Amy Mizuno" or "Amy Anderson") in Sailor Moon. . Mizuno Tadakuni (1794-1851), Japanese official. The 5000-year-old Mask of Warka is believed to be the oldest surviving mask. Mizuno Tadashige (1541-1600), figure in Japanese history.

Possible ancestors are Latin (not classical) mascus, masca = "ghost", and Arabic maskharah = "jester", "man in masquerade". Mizuno Nobumoto (died 1576), Japanese shogun. The word "mask" came via French masque and either Italian maschera or Spanish máscara. Maki Mizuno (born 1970), Japanese actress. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. Junko Mizuno, Japanese artist and mangaka. A mask is a piece of material or kit worn on the face. Katsuhiro Mizuno, Japanese pop star.

The Noh Mask Effect: A Facial Expression Illusion. Mizuno, a WWII aircraft manufacturer, see also Mizuno Shinryu. International Mask and Carnival Museum of Binche. Mizuno, a political family in Japanese history. The Secret of Masks. Mizuno Corp., a Japanese company for Sportswear. A facial mask (or facial in short) is a temporary mask, not solid, used in cosmetics or therapy for skin treatment. Mizuno, a Japanese photographer.

Death masks were very popular in the Western World during the 18th and 19th century. Mizuno Golf a Japanese golf supplier. A "death mask" is the same but taken from the face of a recently dead model. A "life mask" is a plaster cast of a face, used as a model for making a painting or sculpture.

. particularly uncomfortable types, such as an iron mask, are fit as devices for torture or corporal punishment.

a 'shameful' mask (Schandmaske in German) is devised for public humiliation; a popular reduced form are donkey ears for a bad ('dumb') pupil or student. The faceplates of spacesuit helmets. Welder's masks. Ski masks.

Sport masks such as fencing masks or ice hockey and American football goalkeeper's masks. CPR masks used in Cardiopulminary Resuscitation. Anaesthetic masks used in surgery in hospitals. Oxygen masks used as part of medical oxygen resuscitation kit.

Oxygen masks worn by high-altitude pilots. See this link and this link for examples. These are usually fullface. Breathing masks connected to some underwater breathing sets.

These are usually fullface. Breathing masks connected to some industrial breathing sets. The familiar eyes-and-nose diving mask. Gas masks.

Surgical masks. Filter masks. A cloth tied over the mouth and nose as a dust filter. Protecting the face against flying objects or dangerous environments, while allowing vision.

Providing a supply of breathable air or other oxygen-containing gas. Participants in a black bloc at protests often wear masks, usually bandannas, to avoid recognition, and to protect against any riot control agents that may potentially be used. Occasionally a witness for the prosecution appears in court in a mask to avoid being recognized by associates of the accused. In many jurisidictions, it is an additional criminal offense to wear a mask while committing a crime; it is also often a crime to wear a mask at public assemblies and demonstrations.

Criminals often use masks to avoid identification when they commit crimes. Latex masks are used in cinema as part of elaborate character makeup. As part of the costume of a particular personage like Harlequin or a modern comic book superhero. As a part of carnival celebrations in some parts of the world; Venice is most famous for this.

To provide an aura of mystery with professional wrestlers, particularly in Mexico, as well as entertainers like the Unknown Comic, who always wore a paper bag over his head. "theatrical mask". The Ancient Greek word prosōpon = "face" originally meant "in front of the face", i.e. The English word "person" came from a Latin word for a theatrical mask, persona, which itself came from the Etruscan word for a mask, phersu.

Some of the masks used in the Noh theatre display illusory facial expressions. Masks are also a defining characteristic of the Noh theatre of Japan. Use of masks in the dramatic plays in Ancient Greece evolved from the ceremonial purpose. In theatre plays.

All African masks fall into one of four categories: the ancestor spirit, the mythological hero, the combination of ancestor and hero, and the animal spirit. In Africa, especially West Africa, masks also play an important role in traditional ceremonies and theatrical dances. A mask used in such a festival is known as having been "danzada" or "danced." These hand-made, painted masks are typically made from wood and may use rope, animal horns or teeth, or rubber from tire inner tubes. The masks and costumes from these festivals have become collectors items.

These festivals frequently include parades and street theatre that act out a story. All Christian saints have a specific day in the year dedicated to them, and each town typically has a festival on that day, involving a combination of Christian and indigenous tradition. In Mexico and Central America, most towns have both a Christian name and an indigenous name, for example, Santiago Tianguistenco, or Santa Maria Axixitla.