M10 Post

Video Reviews

Olmec Mask

A small mask was found buried as an offering in an Aztec temple. However, this mask was from a far older culture than the Aztecs. It was actually from the Olmec culture which thrived more than 1500 years before the Aztecs. The Aztecs collected artifacts from ancient cultures before them.

Feathered Headdress 

Costume was a significant part of life to the Aztecs. The replica of the headdress featured in the video contained over 450 quetzal tail feathers. These feathers are a long, almost metallic green that only come from the male bird. This bird is found in Central America and they usually have about three tail feathers.

Bundu / Sowei Helmet Mask 

The Helmet Mask for Sande Society was actually meant to be worn on top of the head while raffia hung down and essentially covered the face. Their ritual is unique because women wore the mask. The entire ritual was made and performed by women. It was made to help young girls go through initiation. In this case, a young girl from the Mende would be taken to a secluded area in the forest and taught how to become woman.

Female Chokwe Mask 

This face mask was made by the Chokwe people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It represents an ideal woman and was made to honor young, fertile, and women who had just given birth. The male dancer who wore this mask did so to honor the founding ancestor of the Chokwe lineage, who was a woman.

Kanak Mourning Mask 

This mask most likely represents a chief from New Caledonia. The whole face is carved from wood. The eyes are shut which made the wearer see through its open mouth. Human hair falls down its head and is also used for the beard.

Torres Strait / Mabuiag Island Mask 

The Torres Strait, a body of water between New Guinea and Australia, is the only region where masks were made out of turtle shells. This mask, from the Mabuiag Island within the Torres Strait, is divided into three different sections. A human face is on the bottom, the middle is a bird, and the top contains a bunch of feathers. Various parts of the turtle shell are collaged through the entire mask.

My Opinion

I enjoyed these films. It was interesting to see what different cultures used to create masks and what their purpose was. I appreciated the detail given on how the masks were made, especially in the video about the feathered headdress. I wouldn't have known that each bird only has about three feathers and the mask itself has over 450 if the video didn't go into detail about the quetzal bird.