Masks

Masks. They are largely ingrained in popular culture with a variety of connotations. Mention the word masks, and it instantly conjures up images of innocent kids caught in the midst of their playful banter imitating superheroes or their nemesis. On the flip side of the coin, masks can also evoke sinister pictures of a sadistic serial killer prowling around in search of prey to satisfy his twisted lusts. So well, masks of varied designs occupies every rung throughout the spectrum of emotions. A mask for every occasion. Gaudy clown masks elicit laughter, white opera masks instill a sense of mystery bordering on coldness while demonic masks inspire fear and discomfort.

So how do masks work? Basically they work by granting the one who wears it a temporal personality, and the person becomes whom the mask represents. To put it simply, the mask takes over the individual and expresses its nature through that particular person.

So now what? If you've been reading my blog long enough, you should know that I do not delve into such abstract information to such depths without identifying a parallel concept in daily life. Life demands that we wear masks at times. Not literally, but in the sense where we betray our true selves and adopt a new personality to suit the occasion. No serious harm if we indulge in it occasionally for social purposes, but the risk is it becomes a part of us. Not just a mask where we can put on at will, but one that can slip in insidiously and take over us without us realizing.

I'm guilty of that as well, on more than a single occasion. I cannot ever take them off, its just an issue of switching between masks. It is a daily choice between a wide assortment and these are just to name a few : the most common - the silent indifferent "I don't care" mask; the humorless philosopher; the fatalistic griper; the stoical commentator; and probably the rarest - the bubbly cheerful crapping teen. Perhaps they each form a part of the fractal that I call "Myself". No, I will not tie them down to moods, since I am able to switch at will regardless of emotions. That is why I classify them as masks. A mask to deal with alternating situations. Which goes to say that I am meticulous in crafting a specific mask to deal with a social situation. Those whom I choose to shut out of my life, will never find a door in.