Ah yes, the masks! Somewhat of a parallel with the naked truth, the need to appear as something through facade. Don the clothing, drive the car, talk the talk, walk the walk and for sure the mask is complete. We are the deceivers that must overcome our fears, doubts and insecurities with masks. Society creates models of correctness, strength, beauty etc. that we are not only well aware of but strive to live up to the expectations. IF we cannot find comfort in our true selves then we will go to any length to find comfort in becoming that which we would deem ourselves to be, even if it requires creating falsehood via the mask. There is a complex thought process preceding the use of masks as each requires some exacting measure to fulfill the desired result. Social gatherings are usually full of masked participants in what is considered a meeting of equals to a degree, each participant will try to find common ground with the others though concealment of truth and elaborate fabrications, creating a shrewd shroud of deception. Masks are useful when there is something to gain but they can get sticky if they are used for prolonged periods of time. Masks somehow are a source of discomfort. Everyone really just wants to be themselves so using a mask is a self realization of being false, phony. This is the obstacle of using masks, not being able to be exactly truthful with self and the world and finding comfort more and more through the use of masks. It should be noted that masks are confined to the socio-economic group in which you live. One cannot simply climb the social ladder with a mask, it is something that only works within a specified peer group. If one is very skilled at masking as was the talented Mr. Ripley, then the possibilities are endless.
On May 11, 9:18 am, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > Joseph Campbell is probably our best known contemporary expert on the > subject of masks, and his work including his massive studies, Masks of > God and Masks of Eternity, offer his keen insight into our own > abilities to don a mask and uncover the masks we find. > > What is it about us that put on our masks? What about us creates the > need for one? When do we confuse our mask with who we really are? > When are masks useful and when do they become obstacles for us? > > I’m not talking about the functional, physical mask such as > theatrical, surgical, protect and disguise mask etc. I am talking > about the mask of persona, the way we pretend to be one way and are > really another. Politesse is a good example and can often be a > cultural custom. When our words and mannerisms are polite, but our > actions and innuendos aggressive, we are wearing a mask. When we > profess undying love as a means to an end, and walk away in the > morning light, we are wearing a mask. Sometimes, we lose sight of our > own masks and are confused about who we really are. Why? > > What do YOU think? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
