A wide-ranging collection that allows the mask as artifact, metaphor, theatrical costume, fetish, strategy for self-concealment, and treasured cultural object to clarify modernity s relationship to history. Carrie J. Preston, author of "Modernism s Mythic Pose: Gender, Genre, Solo Performance"
Covering an impressive range of geographies, cultures, and time periods, these carefully researched essays explore the fascinating role of masks and masking in mediating the relationship between tradition and modernity in both art and literature. Paul Jay, author of "The Humanities Crisis and the Future of Literary Studies"
Stretching beyond the Western canon and the literary scope of the field, this volume reconsiders what modernism means by exploring numerous local expressions of modernity around the globe. Masks both literal and metaphorical play a role in each of these artistic ventures, from Brazilian music to Chinese film to Nigerian masquerade performance. These case studies show how masks enable diverse artists and communities to grapple with deep societal transformations caused by modern transnational forces. The contributors challenge popular assumptions about what modernism looks like and what modernity is.
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