HH1

Masks are important aspects to performance in both Indian genres and ancient Greek and Roman genres. They are commonly used to represent and honor Gods in the two different cultures. (I LIKE HOW YOU STARTED THIS ESSAY. FOR THE MOST PART YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR IT BELOW)

In ancient Greek and Roman theatre, Dionysus is known as the “god of the mask”. The masks that are more paradoxical and symbolic of handmade objects are emblems of Dionysus and the theatre (1). The actors use masks to be inspired and take on personalities of conventionalized characters that have long been established in culture. Masks were used more for the audience to receive the effect of the theatre rather than for the benefit of the actual actor (2).

Different Indian communities also use theatre and performance to honor the Gods. Krsnanattam, which is only found at the Guruvaya Temple in South India, tells the stories of the life and adventures of Lord Krishna who is the chief deity at that temple. There are eight plays that are performed in the temple and the two most popular are concerned with his birth and his marriage (3). (YOU MIGHT HAVE INDICATED SOMETHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE USE OF MASK IN KRSNANATTAM, OTHERWISE THESE STATEMENTS SEEM TO NO RELATED TO THE TOPIC, COMPARISON BETWEEN MASKS IN GREECE AND ROME AND THOSE IN INDIA)

Another similarity in the separate genres is that they both commonly use helmet masks that cover the entire face. Indian helmet masks that are used by some characters are usually made by wood. Greek helmet masks are similar but we are not certain of how these masks were made and with what materials (4).

Worship and honor of Gods in the performances in Indian cultures as well as Greek and Roman cultures is very significant of the genres. The type of masks used in the different performances is also very similar.

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 * 1) Eldredge. //Mask Improvisation for Actor Traning & Performance//, p. 10
 * 2) Richmond lecture 1/20/12
 * 3) Richmond handout 1/25/12
 * 4) Richmond lecture 1/18/12

(GOOD START. YOU HAVE CAPTURED SOME OF THE MAIN POINTS ABOVE. YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ABSENCE OF DEMON MASKS IN GREECE AND ROME. INDEED IF YOU KNEW THE PLAYS YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT NONE OF THEM SEEM TO REFERENCE DEMONS AND NONE OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE "GODS" APPEAR ON THE STAGE WHEREAS IN SOME INDIAN GENRES LIKE RAMLILA AND KRSNANATTAM GODS DO MAKE AN APPEARANCE FROM TIME TO TIME, AS WELL AS DEMONS.)