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13 Things 2008
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology
Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
[email protected]
There are typically seven phases of life for any mask.
1. Making: I have put Halloween masks under the category of ritual masks, meaning that they apply to ritual ceremony, which Halloween could be called. Normally a ritual mask is created within a ritual context. The maker might even wear a mask while making a new one, to protect themselves from the power of the new mask (Grimes 1992). This of course is a one to one relationship between the maker and mask. Today’s modern Halloween masks are mass produced, losing their individualization and their “aura”(Benjamin 1935). They are part of a reproducible plasticized world. I think it is important to note that the mask wearer was not present for the creation of the mask.
2. Wearing: Ritual masks are typically worn in a ritual or dramatic performance. For this mask, it was worn in a performance-like context, but a fluid one. There was nothing in the performance that needed to happen except the audience viewing the subject in the mask.
3. Encountering: In the case of the anonymous Halloween masks I have placed the agency on the audience as the true animator of the mask. Therefore, although Michael Dean bought his mask before Halloween it wasn’t truly fulfilling its purpose until the day of.
4. Removing: As with all aspects of the life of a ritual mask a ceremony usually accompanies the removal of a mask, but with the mask stripped of aura or specific importance the removal of the mask loses power. Michael put on and removed his mask over three times in front of me and neither he nor I thought anything of it.
5. Exchanging: What is really interesting here is that the phase of life in Michael Dean’s mask should actually be place between 1 and 2. The mask is an art of commodity (Benjamin1935), and it was created for the intent of being sold. Michael bought this mask for ten to fifteen dollars at a local store.
6. Displaying: Once again, the act of displaying actually happened before the exchanging phase. It was displayed so as to intrigue prospective buyers. However, after the actual use of the mask, because it is so lacking in anything individualistic, it will not be displayed as a work of art or collectors item. However, I should state that there are people out there who do collect modern Halloween commodities and enjoy displaying them, but it is for the precise reason that they represent our modern plasticized Halloween.
7. Destroying: These masks are commonly thrown away without a care. Sometimes they are kept as a possible future costume, or if people are particular lovers of Halloween, as aforementioned, they will keep these masks around, but the point is that these masks are not intended to have a long life. I asked Michael Dean what he plans to do with it and he told me that the mask is going to live in his cupboard and remain part of his collection of costume regalia, including other items like a red Spanish dress.
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