structure

Introduction
Theory
Inspiration
​​Creative writing exercises
​Stay grounded & motivated
​Share your text with us

introduction

Masks are more than mere disguises; they are symbols, tools, and thresholds. They allow us to conceal, to reveal, and to transform. Whether used in rituals, performances, or daily interactions, masks embody paradoxes. They both liberate and confine, obscure and highlight, divide and unify.
This lesson will delve into the multifaceted dimensions of masks through psychology, philosophy, literature, and art, exploring how they relate to identity, belonging, and creativity. By examining masks’ cultural significance and their presence in contemporary art and thought, we will discover how they serve as mirrors for our fragmented and multi-layered selves.​

theory

Masks in Psychology

Jung’s concept of the persona refers to the social mask we wear to present a curated version of ourselves to the world. It is not an arbitrary disguise but a necessary interface between the self and society, allowing us to navigate social expectations. Yet, the persona can become a prison when over-identified with, suppressing the deeper, authentic layers of the self, including the shadow—the hidden, repressed aspects of our psyche.

Questions to ponder:

• When does a mask serve as protection, and when does it become a limitation?
• How do our masks evolve in different contexts, and what happens when they crack?

Masks in Philosophy

Philosophically, masks challenge notions of truth and authenticity. Nietzsche, for example, saw masks not as falsehoods but as layers of meaning, arguing that “every profound spirit needs a mask.” For Nietzsche, the mask is a necessary artifice, a means of survival and expression in a world of perpetual flux. Similarly, Derrida’s deconstruction reminds us that identity itself is performative, a series of acts and masks rather than a fixed essence.

Questions to ponder:

• Can masks express truths that bare faces cannot?
• What does it mean to “be yourself” if identity is inherently fluid and performative?

Masks in Literature

Wilde’s novel explores the duality of appearance and reality, with Dorian’s youthful face as a mask that conceals his moral decay. The painting serves as a “truthful” mirror, reflecting the corruption hidden beneath the surface. Through this lens, masks become a way to explore the tension between external perception and internal truth.
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Questions to ponder:

• How do masks help us construct or conceal narratives about ourselves?
• What happens when the mask no longer aligns with the self it is meant to represent?

inspiration

Yoann Estevenin: Performative masks
Estevenin’s work often incorporates masks that are both whimsical and grotesque, embodying the tension between humor and discomfort. His masks evoke the carnival tradition, where social hierarchies are upended, and participants inhabit exaggerated personas. Estevenin’s practice invites us to consider how masks allow us to explore forbidden or suppressed aspects of ourselves.
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Bulgarian masks: Ritual and community
In Bulgarian traditions, masks are central to Kukeri rituals, where villagers don elaborate masks and costumes to chase away evil spirits and ensure a good harvest. These masks are not merely decorative but deeply symbolic, representing forces of chaos and order, fertility and destruction. They foster communal bonds while serving as a medium for individual expression.
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Questions to ponder:

• How do masks mediate between the sacred and the profane?
• What communal functions do masks serve in contemporary society?​

"Persona" Exhibition (Romanian Artists)
Curated by Diana Marincu, this exhibition explores the mask as both a cultural artifact and a metaphor for identity. Through works that blend ethnographic research with contemporary critique, the exhibition challenges notions of national identity and cultural heritage. The mask, in this context, becomes a site of resistance, subversion, and transformation.
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creative exercise

• Set the scene: Place your character in a situation where they must wear a mask—literally or metaphorically. This could be a masquerade ball, a ritual, or even a high-stakes social interaction.
• Describe the mask: What does the mask look like? What does it represent? What emotions does it evoke in the wearer and the observer?
• Reveal the transformation: As the character wears the mask, how does it change them? Do they feel liberated, constrained, or something else entirely?
• Remove the mask: Write a scene where the mask comes off. What remains? What has been lost or gained in the process?

stay grounded and motivated!

"Writing about masks requires us to confront our own layers—our personas, defenses, and vulnerabilities. It can be unsettling to explore what lies beneath, but it is also profoundly liberating. Remember that masks are not just barriers; they are bridges. They connect us to others, to ourselves, and to the many identities we hold within.
As you write, embrace the paradoxes: the mask as both truth and lie, concealment and revelation, prison and freedom. Use this exercise not to resolve these tensions but to inhabit them fully. Writing is, after all, its own kind of mask—a surface through which we glimpse the infinite complexities of the self. And perhaps that is the artist’s essential role: to see and to honor life in its complexities, to dwell in its ambiguities, and to reflect its many layers with courage and care."​

​​​​​​​—Anna Ádám
Founder of the School of Disobedience

Photo: "Persona" Exhibition (Romanian Artists)