Exploring
The Culture of MASKS 2011
What are masks used for?
Dragon Drummers respond-
to: share, entertain, show feeliings, show personality, express yourself, show faces of deities,
use in ceremonies, offend, show respect, scare, laugh!
Etymology according
to WIKI
The
word "mask" came via French masque and either Italian maschera or Spanish máscara. Possible
ancestors are Latin (not classical) mascus, masca
= "ghost"; Hebrew masecha= "mask"; Arabic maskharah مَسْخَرَۃٌ =
"jester", "man in masquerade", maskhara مَسْخَرَ =
"he ridiculed, he mocked", masakha مَسَخَ = "he transfomed" (transitive).
Masks according to
http://www.rebirth.co.za/African_mask_history_and_meaning.htm:
Ritual ceremonies generally depict deities, spirits of ancestors,
mythological beings, good and or evil, the dead, animal spirits, and
other beings believed to have power over humanity. Masks of human
ancestors or totem ancestors (beings or animals to which a clan or
family traces its ancestry) are often objects of family pride; when
they are regarded as the dwelling of the spirit they represent, the
masks may be honored with ceremonies and gifts.
OBJECTIVE:
Students will gain understanding of another culture by exploring masks
from around the world.
Students create a mask that represents parts of their own culture.
(i.e. ethnic
culture, kid culture, fantasy culture, etc.)
