Masquerade - by Deborah Bell (Paperback)

About the Book

This collection of essays explores contemporary masquerade in its great variety. The contributors analyze how masquerade shapes popular taste while illustrating community cultural values and political issues. We continue to recognize and enjoy its traditional forms, but meanwhile a rapidly changing culture has also produced bold new versions of masquerade. The look of masquerade continues to evolve as historic non-Western traditions converge and even collide with contemporary settings, ultimately mirroring communities in transition. Performance art, photography, and comic books have all greatly influenced masquerade today. Furthermore, digital masquerade increasingly appeals to and unites global audiences.

Book Synopsis

In its conventional meaning, masquerade refers to a festive gathering of people wearing masks and elegant costumes. But traditional forms of masquerade have evolved over the past century to include the representation of alternate identities in the media and venues of popular culture, including television, film, the internet, theater, museums, sports arenas, popular magazines and a range of community celebrations, reenactments and conventions.

This collection of fresh essays examines the art and function of masquerade from a broad range of perspectives. From African slave masquerade in New World iconography, to the familiar Guy Fawkes masks of the Occupy Wall Street movement, to the branded identities created by celebrities like Madonna, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, the essays show how masquerade permeates modern life.

Review Quotes

"fascinating essays that examine masquerade from many different perspectives...recommended"-Choice.

About the Author

Deborah Bell is a professor of costume design at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she has taught for three decades.