Agayuliyararput
Click here (Smithsonian), and follow the links, to browse an exhibit featuring Yup'ik Eskimo masks from Southwest Alaska...
What general (as well as particular) properties of masks would make them effective tools for a shamanic culture?
6 comments:
Almost all the masks had feathers, and some of them represented nature (the masks with the owl face, or the one with the moon and sun, the wolf face, etc). As we have seen in many cases, shamanism very often uses nature as a foundation and source of inspiration and I think the masks represent earthly characteristics well, perhaps aiding in the connection the shaman has with nature.
I also noticed that most of the masks have very expressive facial expressions (wrinkled forehead, showing teeth, smiling, etc). I think that this makes them effective tools because it represents the emotional engagement involved in shamanistic practices.
In shamanic cultures, I think masks in general must be designed in such a way that they embody nature and emotion because these two elements are extremely important in these cultures.
Lauren
The properties of the masks that would make them effective tools in a shamanic culture is the expressions on the mask as well as the coloring. On one of the masks. Even though the meaning behind each mask varies from creator to creator, there is still an over all meaning that the entire culture knows. It was also said that these masks help them connect with the unseen world. With nature being a huge part of the foundation of shamanism, the masks had animal faces on them, connecting them closer to the world around them. The dancing that came along with wearing the masks would help the connection further.
Saryn
Masks are an excellent way for a shaman to hide his humanity for a short while while he performs rituals or services. Covering the shaman's face is an excellent way to shift focus specifically to the ritual act itself. In this way, the ritual can also be made larger than life because it is not so much visually tied to the shaman, but rather the spirit world.
Sophie
this was interesting. All of the masks have faces on them, animals or human. Since the Shamans are close to nature they like to pretend they are something else these masksplay right into that.
Lisa
the way these masks were effective in shamanic culture is the fact trhat they all were designed and resembled the animal or ancient spirit the shaman would be trying to envoke. Masks are very important for this interaction and the feathers seem to be a conduit for catching the many spirits.
Bob
I find it fascinating just how big the majority of these masks are. Whether that is to capture spirits or to scare them, or for other reasons, it definitely makes an impression of power on spectators watching the shamanic performance or just viewers of the mask. That they can be constructed uniquely to an event/performance/need also makes them more powerful I believe, because this shows the religion adapting to need in the present situation (an immediate response by the spirits -- no waiting for a response from spirit/deity like in other religions). The coloring is general neutral except the red, which would make an impression, especially for what it represented. All of these aspects together would make the masks effective in a shamanic culture.
Sydney
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