Senufo Culture: A Mythological Analysis

The theme of masks is a significant theme throughout the book through the book. In all war people use

Masks have held countless uses and meanings throughout history. Masks have been used in plays, like those of Shakespeare, traditional dances, social gatherings, even as a form of casual or corporal punishment. Although masks have several different uses in different cultural situations, the meaning of the masks is generally the same. Masks are used to conceal an appearance and assume the identity of another. Metaphorically, masks can be used to hide feelings, to protect oneself, and to block out the outside world. Many of these examples are shown in Art Speigelman 's Maus.

Masks gave life to various mythological, primitive, bird and animal figures which the tribal members claimed as their ancestors from long ago and were to believe to invoke supernatural powers. These mythical beings gave way for privileges and special powers to individual tribal families and helped to form a family's crest, song or dance. The family would then personify distinct mythological figures as part of their heritage. The animals and mythological creatures represented in the masks and a host of other carvings derive from the Northwest Coast's rich oral tradition and celebrate the mythological origins and inherited privileges of high-ranking families (Gardners, 864). The majority of the masks displayed intricate and mastered use of line in their smooth concave and convex curves, with crisp sharp lines used to bring focus on a specific feature of the mask. The features usually being brought to the forefront were delineated nostrils, eyes and lips that were accentuated by deep cut carving and the use of contrasting color which helped to add form and realism to the mask. Geometric and organic lines were used to contrast between the parallel lines which would help create to enhance the features of the mask. The paint colors typically used by the

The grandiose task of wearing another's cultural skin understandably comes with a host of opinions on how such a job can be accomplished. Anthropologists have long argued about the accuracy of ethnographies (Levinson & Ember, 1996, pp. 419-21). Much of the discussion stems from the assumption that some cultural aspects are ineffable and subconscious. Can an anthropologist approach his subject, as Spradley argues, "with a conscious attitude of almost complete ignorance"? Is it possible to consciously withhold one's own cultural interpretations while attempting to study that very thing in another culture?" (Spradley, 1979, p. 4 & Levinson & Ember, 1996, pp. 419-21).

There are numerous types of masks that come from the West African region, each represent a specific personality trait. Masks from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Gambia, and Sierra Leone all symbolize the various characteristics that can found in people. To find a mask that best fit my personality, I researched the various amount of masks that can be found in Ghana. Birds have been an important part in ancient animist cultures, whose tribal people believed that birds had spirits and played special roles in many aspects of life. Several African masks depict a bird on or above a human forehead, signifying a range of personalities from courage to intelligence. One of these masks is the Sonu Bird

Every culture has their own unique and distinguishing characteristics. One’s cultural identity defines who they are as an individual, group, and community. Their cultural identity may be reflected in numerous ways such as: language, communication styles, religion, beliefs, values, clothing, or other types of aesthetic markers. Cultural identity is formed by many of these traits but is not limited to these specifically. This essay will provide detailed information on Mexican Americans, and their ancestry and heritage. I will also explain about this cultures central beliefs and values, while incorporating information on Mexican Americans, cultural patterns, cultural identity, and their cultures communication characteristics and styles.

There is no negative space evident in the masks such as no holes for the eyes, nose, or mouth, only in the earlobes for attachment to the corpse bundle. When analyzing the iconography of the Olmec mask, the viewer must question the symbolic meaning and the use of conventionalized imagery. Although the symbolic meaning was not explicitly stated in any of the ancient codecies or texts, it is assumed that the mask was a way to give the deciesed a face for what could be the afterlife, or simply to identify the bundle. On the other hand, the repeated use of certain aspects in the mask such as the closed, squinting

When given the thought, one makes the comparison that masks are used to describe our

Furthermore, Masks is another great example used by Sam Gill. He clearly reveals that often times we misinterpret the meaning of mask: that they only hold a space on a shelf among others like itself, otherwise known as a collection. However, masks hold a bigger significance than that. To the Natives, masks are living and when masked performances take place, the deities are present. To view mask as art alone is to minimize the actual beauty and value behind the entire mask and its' function. There is a reason for its existence and it's not just to be creative and productive. Typically, we consider masks as objects that hide or conceal something. In the Native Americans' case, this is the furthest from the truth. Performing a mask in a ritual is

At first, an individual may probably perceive this type of attire as a comical idea but it actually has grave repercussions on the communities that the costume mocks. It is evident that the previous Halloween holiday elicited a great deal of controversy regarding the issue of discrimination. This affected many people including those who faced some form of mockery. Previous holidays mainly highlighted the aspect of racism, but an attack on other societal aspects was evident this time around.

Masks and identity are a huge part of The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman. They’re used in many different cases and in different situations to conceal the character's true identity to provide protection or to help characters relate to others. Masks are also used to take away identity in a way that's harmful. Ones identity is a very important part of who they are and the loss of identity can cause a lot of personal destruction. One instance shows a positive outcome of the masks when Vladek wears a pig mask to hide the fact that he is jewish so he can talk to the polish man on the train to get home safely. This is an example of how the masks are used to provide protection and conceal one's true identity.

Good afternoon Abdulaziz, I believe we wrote about the same topic. I found this topic very amusing, didn't you? The fact that they believed in a society that heals people is very interesting. Having people healing you instead of paying for insurance is pretty nice! I liked how you included, "The Bear Society". I did not quite understand their role until I read your post. Basically, when they fail to heal people, the False Society jumps in and takes control. You did not mention how they earn the mask, it's the best part! I will explain it to you. A man would stroll into the woods until he gets provoked by a spirit. The spirit would then guide the man to create this mask that is a representation of that spirit! Since the masks are representations

The mask can worn in three different ways in said dance or ritual: as a helmet or covering the entire top of the wearers head, covering the entire face, or just as a crest, resting upon head. The masks being worn in dances is represented as spirits and is believed that the spirit possesses the dancer or wearer of the mask. During the ceremony the mask wearer goes into a deep trance or possession, during this time the dancer is in the state of mind wear he or she (mainly he) can communicate with their ancestors. Sometimes a translator or “wise man” accompanies the wearer of the mask during the ceremony. The mask wearer then brings said messages from their ancestors; these messages are usually messages of wisdom. The messages given to the dancer are mainly grunted utterances that only the translator can understand and decipher what the messages really mean. The ceremonies and dances are always presented with songs and music played by traditional African

The third mask also deals with a secret society. This carved wood “Helmet Mask” (inventory # 5-13259) is thought to be from the Bamileke society of Cameroon and is dated to about 1976. Used in a men’s secret society known as the Kwifo (“night”), masks in this style disguised the members identities as they acted as a police force for the king. The Kwifo mediated conflicts, pronounced legal sentences, and carried out the resulting punishments. Different masks represented the various powers of the group and the carved headdress of this mask mirrors the prestige caps worn by elites and kings. The intertwined “legs” represent the earth spider, which, because it lived underground was thought to unite the world of the ancestors and spirits, who live in the earth, with that of humans. Revered for its supernatural wisdom and power it is often consulted

The frowning skinhead has joined the hooded Klansman as an instantly unmistakable symbol of loathe. Not at all like the Klan, supremacist skinhead culture is not local to the United States. Also, not at all like the Klan, it is a really worldwide marvel, with skinhead possess frequenting real urban areas and towns in pretty much every white-dominant part nation on earth. From Austria to Australia and Argentina to America, average workers’ adolescents can be discovered wearing some neighborhood minor departure from the skinhead subject, embracing a rough perspective that is violently hostile to outsider, against dark,