These days, masks seem to be more of a trend than coronavirus (Oh, excuse me, that was sarcasm, lol). While thinking about such things, I remembered something.
I once gave an art lecture at Zushi High School in Kanagawa Prefecture about the effects and expression of masks. When you wear a mask, you're putting on an outer appearance, a facade. This might mean you can't express your true feelings.
However, perhaps wearing a mask can make it easier to say things! That's why we took on a project with the main objective of thinking paradoxically about existing concepts and expressing ourselves...
At first, everyone was rather quiet. So, as an ICE BREAKER (to ease the conversation), I started by saying, 'Let's just complain about anything!!' We started with 'Huh? Is that okay?' Complaining about school, family, society, anything! Because complaining is easy, right? Then, complaints just poured out, lol. It started to get fun.
Now, here comes the challenge. Can you say these complaints in front of a crowd? It's difficult, isn't it? It's embarrassing, and you might worry about what others think, right?
And then, the masks appeared.
Draw your own picture on a paper bag. These paper bag masks, or paper bag boys/girls, become a new 'self.' There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Whatever you say, they have no name, no personality. But you can express yourself.
On the final day of the project, the students, wearing masks, stood on the hall stage and shouted at the assembled students.
'Ooooooh XXXXXX!!!!!'
You were all so cool!
PS. I know. That shout, that feeling, 'I am the one saying this!' In the near future, you'll develop a good ambition, I'm sure of it, it will sprout. When that time comes, you can just take off the mask, that's all.
