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NN5-Test of Unit 3

NN5-Test of Unit 3

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18 views

NN5-Test of Unit 3

NN5-Test of Unit 3

Uploaded by

Lê Thành Đạt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SPEAKER_00:

Our cultural anthropology class is not going to study elaborate masks used during
carnival celebrations or those used to deceive others by hiding one's true identity.
Instead, we are going to discuss masks used in two ways associated with death. To
cover the faces of the dead at burial and to show respect for or fear of the dead
during certain festivals. As you know, a mask is a covering worn over or just in front
of the face. Masks are interesting to cultural anthropologists because they have been
used by different cultures throughout history. They vary in their appearance,
symbolism, and use. First, let's examine masks as a part of burial ceremonies linking
departing spirits with the afterlife. Early masks used during a funeral had two
different purposes. First, they covered the faces of the dead. Second, they helped the
dead leave for the spirit world and protected them by scaring off evil spirits. One
example would be the masks of the ancient Egyptians. They placed anthropomorphic
masks or masks that resembled the human face on the person who had died. The
masks were made of cloth, covered with plaster, and then painted. For very
important people in Egypt and Greece, silver and gold were utilized, as can be seen in
the masks created for the Pharaoh, Tutankhamun and King Agamemnon. One thing
to note regarding Greek masks is that they all had only male features and closed
eyes. Other groups that placed gold masks on the faces of dead kings include
Cambodians of Southeast Asia and Incas of South America. A notable difference is
that some Incan masks had movable parts, including ears. Next, it is an ancient
Roman burial that we begin to see the dual purpose of masks. They were used both
to cover the face of the dead and to wear during special ceremonies. Molds were
made over the faces and then the masks were created out of wax. In fact, during a
burial ceremony, an actor sometimes wore the mask, creating the illusion that the
dead person was still present. Later, these masks were preserved as portraits of the
ancestors, and to show respect, they were displayed on ceremonial occasions.
Among cultural groups in Asia, Africa, and North America, special days are set aside
to honor spirits or ancestors. 21st-century travelers to Indonesia report viewing
ancient funeral masks that are still being used during rituals. One of the most well-
known festivals revolving around death and masks is the Latin American holiday Day
of the Dead. On November 1, families go to cemeteries to build altars, talk to their
ancestors, and invite them to return for a visit. They also decorate masks to be left on
the altar or to be worn during parades celebrating those who have passed on to the
next world. Strangely, the most common mask is that of a human skull or skeleton
head. Even though such masks may frighten others, for Latin Americans, the skulls
symbolize death and rebirth. As you can see, masks are cultural elements that have
existed for thousands of years, and reflect the belief societies have towards death
and the respect they have for their ancestors. During the next class, we can open the
discussion up to examples you might have of your own traditions related to this
topic.

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