Diana Zarate
Nov. 14, 2019
HUMN 3
1. What do you personally think is the most fascinating role of masks within rituals
connecting humanity to myth? Why? Examples from Unit 6: Myth, Masks, and Ritual
must be provided
...
Diana Zarate
Nov. 14, 2019
HUMN 3
1. What do you personally think is the most fascinating role of masks within rituals
connecting humanity to myth? Why? Examples from Unit 6: Myth, Masks, and Ritual
must be provided to support your assertions.
Personally, I think the most fascinating part of the roles masks have in the rituals is how
they are used to instill fear into young children, and how losing or fighting off that fear is
deemed a right of passage. This is something brought up in the video "Joseph Campbell - On
Becoming an Adult, " where Campbell explains that in initiations for young men involves
them being brought up to fear the masks of the gods. Apon getting older, or if the child
begins to disrespect his parents, men from the village and challenge the young man to a fight.
In the end, they are considered to have passed onto the next phase of their life, into
adulthood. This brought to light something similar in the way children in Europe and
America grow, and how their views of whimsical and fearful Christmas traditions or
characters change as they get older.
Europe and America Christmas traditions have their own form of mask, whether it be
dressing as the lovable Santa Clause, or as the frightening Krampus. Traditions such as these
also serve the same purpose used in other cultures where children are raised to fear the
masks, it’s leverage adults have in order to scare their kids into behaving. Although, as the
child gets older, they see for themselves that Krampus is not something to be feared, as can
be seen in the video where adults being confronted by disguised men are either laughing or
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