Mblo Masks Analysis

The characteristics stylized in these masks severed as icons presenting what it meant to be a good, honorable, respectable and beautiful woman in Baule society. The large forehead and half slit eyes present the idea of modesty and wisdom. The beard like pattern indicate age in the woman. The luster of the mask is an indicator of glowing skin and good health. The “horns” protruding from the top the crest symbolize an idealized inner state of beauty and morality associated the person whom the mask is based off of. The Mblo mask is also referred to as a “portrait mask” because they were made to honor a respected member of Baule society. These portrait masks were then used in Baule parodies and dances called Gbagba, which could bring social relief …show more content…
They are given very positive and powerful traits by people in the past who create these beautiful works of art. The women in these masks are depicted as beautiful and proud, and seem to hold a great influence over other women and men in their societies. However, this can be seen as problematic in these three masks specifically because of one thing: they were all made by men. At first, I didn’t quite understand how it could be problematic that men were the sole creators of these special works of art. I even thought it was their way of honoring the women in their lives and communities by what they do for one another and society as a whole, but listen to class lectures made me think of it differently. I realized that some of the men making these masks weren’t making theses masks to reflect the traits and general beauty of the women in the society. Some of these male artists were making these masks, which are basically idols and symbols of “peak” womankind, were illustrating what they wanted the women to be. I feel now that the masks weren’t meant to draw inspiration from, but to be ideals that these women had to become to be a “true” woman of the society. These aren’t masks that are made recreationally or for private patrons either, they are used only on special occasions that highlight their importance and power, treated differently than other crafts, given special choreography in ceremonies, and mostly danced by …show more content…
The are all art meant to honor women, in similar and different ways. The reasoning behind this is dubious to me at best however because of the fact that a majority of these works are made by men, and not by the women themselves. Now that this is a factor in the making of this art, I question genuineness of the masks. The masks serve the purpose of an ideal woman who is supposed to give herself to her community selflessly, but for who’s benefit? I can’t shake the feeling that many people were manipulated by these masks, or maybe the way in which they’re used. I feel as if there was a lot of unnecessary pressure put upon the women in many of these cultures. The way I look at these masks will be forever changed now; I want to appreciate the craftsmanship of the mask, but I can’t forget the forces that established its