MIND MAN and MASK

About the Book

Various cultures have comprehended the Universe - its space, time, form primal elements and the incessant movement of chaos and order - through the 'Mind', a unique faculty that allows us to reflect and communicate innumerable worldviews. An ancient hymn from India describes Man's first conscious reflection on creation as: "…the contemplative Mind conceives of everything from nothing…only Mind was there... neither existent nor nonexistent…That the Truth is hidden in a golden jar… That which covers the Truth, the Mind and the Man, is the Mask". This hymn illustrates from only one traditional culture among to many all over the world that have certain distinct paradigms which form their basic ground of existence. From this theoretical base several questions may be raised within the contemporary cultural context when alternative ways of future scenarios are being considered: Who is Man? What is the Person / Self? The answers maybe given in terms of Purusa (Cosmic Man) - in India; in Greece the word Prosopon and the Latin word Persona assumed the meaning of personage. Thus Mind, Man and Person are closely interlinked; and in this context there are diverse concepts, notions and paradigms to the query - "What is Mask"?

It is clear to all that the Mask has the power to reveal as also the power to conceal the 'self / Self'. The papers in this edited volume were presented during an International Seminar, Rupa-Pratirupa: Mind, Man and Mask, held in February, 1998. It was part of the ongoing programme of the IGNCA which had earlier taken up such themes as Time (Kala), Space (Akasa), Form (Akara), Primal elements (Prakrti), Chaos and Order (Rta-Rtu), and Sound (Dhvani).

This Seminar reflects a turning point in the series since it now deals directly with the human being and how humankind has attempted to move into the inner realm of the self, Self and the Mind of Man. Contributors have responded from the view point of their own field of specialization and reflect views of many diverse cultures and societies.

About the Author

S.C. Malik retired as a UGC Professorial Research Scientist in Anthropology (1988-1997). Earlier, he was associated with the institute of Advanced Study (1966-1989), Shimla; M.S. University of Baroda (1956-1971); and was the Fulbright Smith-Mundt Scholar at the University of Chicago (1963-65). His major contribution is in pioneering multidisciplinary research methodologies and theoretical models for the study of Indian civilization and lately within the framework of philosophical anthropology for a study of modern civilization. Some of his major books are: Indian Civilization: The Formative Period (1968); Understanding Indian Civilization: A Framework of Enquiry (1975 ); Modern Civilization: A Crisis of Fragmentation (1989); Reconceptualising the Science and the Humanities: An Integral Approach (1995). There are several edited volumes and significant papers to his credit.

Contents

Foreword
List of Illustrations
Introduction

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THEME I: MIND, MAN AND SELF

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1. Mask and Metaphysics in the Ancient World : An Anthropological View
-A. David Napier
2. Mind, Immortality and Art
-Subhash Kak
3. The 'Self' and the 'Other' in Early Indian Tradition
-Aloka Parasher-sen
4. Mask: A Question of Self-Identity - what Tradition Reveals Modernity Conceals
-S.C. Malik
5. Becoming a Mask: Facial Make-up and the Transformation of Identities
-Paul Bouissac
6. Mind the Elephant" A Sacred Science View of Reality
-Baidyanath Saraswati
7. The Distinction between Soul and Persona: A Psychological Understanding According to the Work of C.G. Jung
-Rashna Imhasly

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THEME II: MASK IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

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8. Mind, Man and Mask in Prehistoric Art
-Emmanuel Anati and Ariela Fradkin Anati
9. Archaeology Masks: Indian Evidence
-B.M. Pande
10. The Mask in Hellenic Classical Theatre
-Alexander Adamopoulos
11. Persona, Larva, Masca: Masks, Identity and Cognition in the Cultures of Europe
Cesare Poppi
12. From Face to Interface: Journey of Prosopon and Mukharaga to Virtual Reality
Bharat Gupt

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THEME III: MASK AND ITS EXPRESSIONS

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13. Sri Lankan Masks: Categories, Usages and Interactions
-M.H. Goomatilleka
14. Guru Tshen-Gay Chham Dance
-C.T. Dorji
15. Viewing the World Through the Masks of Assam
-Pradip Jyoti Mahanta
16. Myth and Manifestation
-A.K. Das
17. Dan Forest Spirits: Masks in Dan Villages
-Eberhard Fischer
18. The Masks of the Winternight
-Inger Zielfelt
19. Men and Masks in Kathmandu Valley
-Anne Vergati
20. Mask as an Ancient Structural Motif in Indian Art
-M.C. Joshi
21. Identity and Impersonation in Teyyam: Masquerade of Pottan Teyyam as Subversion
-Sudha Gopalkrishnan
22. Masks of West Bengal: An Anthropological Study
-Sabita Ranjan Sarkar
23. The Use of Masks in Japanese Noh Theatre
-Andrew T. Tsubaki
24. The Mask-Making: Craftsmanship and the Power to Make the Mask Alive
-Soedarso Sp.
25. Thoughts Supporting the Short Demonstration
-Dadi d. Puumjee
26. Mask Glances
-Michael Meschke
27. Mask without Masks
-M.K. Raina
28. Mask Transformation in Balinese Performing Arts
-I Nyoman Catra
29. Fasnacht in Basle: A Total Work of Art Created Anew Every Year
-Balan Nambiar
30. Masks in the Ritual Performing Arts of the West Coast of South India
-Balan Nambiar

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THEME IV: MASK AND ITS SOCIAL ROLE

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31. European Lenten Carnivals: A Feast at the Crossroad
-Donatella Bernstein
32. Masks and Artists in Alpine Switzerland: Paul Klee, Adolf Wolfli and Adolf Dietrich
Balz Baechi
33. Dramatic Content of Tantric Buddhist Art and Ritual
-D.C. Bhattacharyya
34. Unmasking the Mask of Adharma: The Celebration of Guru Padmasambhava at the Hemis Festival, Ladakh
Madhu Khanna
35. Masque et Societe en Cote D'Ivoire Precoloniale
-Georges Niangoram-Bouah

List of Contributors & Participants

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