This document discusses the history and uses of masks throughout different cultures and time periods. It examines masks in Renaissance Italy and the modern digital age. Masks have been used for religion, identity, humor, and to allow people to escape social conventions. Character masks in Italian commedia dell'arte theatre amplified certain traits to define characters. Similarly, digital avatars now allow people to curate their online identities and personalities.

1. stevemcardle

2. - André Berthiaume

3. Since the Ancient Greeks used masks in ritual drama, cultures
have embraced masks for religion, circumstance, identity and
humour.
Men may favour the Moretta mask, worn by women and kept in
place by a button held by the front teeth therefore restricting
the opportunity to speak
Circumstance gave birth to the Plague Doctor Mask long
beak to avoid contamination while dealing with the plague

4. With only 5 minutes I ve the more simple the mask the
selected two
periods in our history to more ambiguous and
examine
Renaissance Italy and the digital age
contradictory the character

5. Masquerade wasn t about being somebody
else, it was about being yourself without
consequence.
- Alexander Pope

6. 13th Century where masked men threw
scented eggs at ladies, a practice shortly
prohibited

7. It then became an opportunity for the
wealthy to escape social conventions and
gossip, flirt, fraternise with those of a lower
status

8. While eliminating distinction, anonymity led
to perceived immorality and restrictions on
use

9. What would you say or do if you feared no
consequence?

10. The characters of Commedia Dell arte
theatre were defined by their masks. They
were not something to hide behind, in fact
they required the actors to be more
outrageous
- Rodney Dangerfield

11. Mask did not limit physicality of the theatre
or expression
Traits were unified across masks to amplify
certain characteristics nose, forehead

12. Il Dottore s mask is bulbous and exposes
the cheeks to be highlighted and reddened
Pantalone long pointed nose

13. Zanni low eyebrows, wrinkled forehead,
the larger the nose the stupider the Zanni
Arlecchino low forehead, crooked with
evil intentions, small nose intelligent
Il Capitano less mask to give large eyes
for the audience to see them open in fear

14. While scenarios were often improvised with
interjection of pre-determined lazzi
(character s joke), you can take the
commedia characters and turn a traditional
play into something completely different.

15. The contradiction of anonymity and privacy
has never been so prevalent.
- William Astle

16. We choose an avatar as a way of
personifying our online presence, creating
a personal brand, creating an identifier.
How often do you change your profile
images and why?

17. We use online as an opportunity to amplify
and mute our emotions.

18. We ve found a sneaky balance between
anonymity and personalisation if you
know the person you can see how the
avatar is similar but you couldn t identify
someone specifically by their picture.

19. Despite the best efforts of a lot of people
we are discovering you can t pretend to be
someone you re not for too long because
your true identity will always come through

20. - Oscar Wilde

21. So the digital world is your stage. How are
you introducing yourself? How are you
wearing your mask? What will it say about
you?

22. stevemcardle
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