Just for you Lanius, I will be dropping an essay later in the series about why Japan almost exclusively out of the non-western countries, resonates so well with Western horror and facial metaphysics - not identical, but enough overlap to make the cultural leap
This might seem tangential but I believe it connects to the theme of fear conveyed through unnatural serenity. I was given a lavish book on antique dolls. The cool, symmetrical porcelain faces with real hair eyelashes were terrifying. The book immediately went to a charity shop.
> Globally masks are used in all sorts of creative ways, and often the mask itself as an object possesses a form of agency, the mask is a being which can impose itself over the wearer.
Reading this, I couldn't help think of the connection between corporate personhood and the original persona Etruscan ritual masks.
I wonder if AI actors like Tilly Norwood will replace the "stars." I just happened upon this playwrite and novelist who is worried: https://archive.ph/R0jBe
If masks lead humans into a more perfect or non-human world, whether desirable or not, is AI a kind of mask? Are the "stars" only human or are they also godlike? Will the "stars" remain human beings or can they be swapped out by images on screens or holographs?
Maybe this is just a tempest in a teapot and AI is merely a tool that will be used to satisfy human desire for some kind of unchanging otherworldly beauty, or as you say so well, the serene mask bringing order. But I do wonder what will happen to the human stars. Maybe they are a kind of god substitute and the shallow emptiness they represent will be detected and some kind of wrenching (more traditional?) spiritual mask will re-emerge.
I don't know if this interests you or is pertinent to your ideas but I myself am somewhat intrigued by the various representations of gods and humans thoughout history. Here is an article about the manifestation of Jeff Goldblum at a Madame Tussauds in Times Square:
Just imagine the amount of energy and expense that went into duplicating Goldblum and all the other "stars" – to the minutest detail. Even the hairs on his head and face. What does this say about modern (western? northern European?) people in relation to the former (same?) men who made idealized images of gods? Why are humans so obsessed with this phenomenon? Or at least certain humans.
Makes me think of Mordred's mask/helmet in Excalibur.
Roman mask on the right? https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/73af058ec2fb277038c4741273df5e75
This was wonderful, thank you!
Happy you're back man, hail victory and the herbalist
I'd never thought of the link to scifi and now I can't stop seeing it everywhere. Amazing essay.
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6344fd699d2447e18c9710df/654e8f3092a10204723e225b_Ghost_in_the_Shell_still%202%20thumbnail.jpg
https://a.storyblok.com/f/178900/960x540/a371eccaf0/virgin-punk-header.png/m/filters:quality(95)format(webp)
https://kinorotterdam.nl/content/uploads/2023/09/Ghost-Shell-2-Still-1-1120x630.jpg
Just for you Lanius, I will be dropping an essay later in the series about why Japan almost exclusively out of the non-western countries, resonates so well with Western horror and facial metaphysics - not identical, but enough overlap to make the cultural leap
Shinjirarenai!
This might seem tangential but I believe it connects to the theme of fear conveyed through unnatural serenity. I was given a lavish book on antique dolls. The cool, symmetrical porcelain faces with real hair eyelashes were terrifying. The book immediately went to a charity shop.
The character of Demerzel from Apple TV’s “Foundation” series makes another excellent addition to the “serene Android” section.
I'm going to enjoy this series. Keep it coming!
Amazing article. Been really enjoying reading the first volume of the Essays btw. Cant wait to finish and order the next volume. They’re really good!
Un tema molto affascinante! 👏
> Globally masks are used in all sorts of creative ways, and often the mask itself as an object possesses a form of agency, the mask is a being which can impose itself over the wearer.
Reading this, I couldn't help think of the connection between corporate personhood and the original persona Etruscan ritual masks.
A friend with whom I shared this wonderful article shared this bit about Michael Myers mask being a modified William Shatner mask https://share.google/images/6D6brWKF5ZMguekek
Interesting article. Thanks.
I wonder if AI actors like Tilly Norwood will replace the "stars." I just happened upon this playwrite and novelist who is worried: https://archive.ph/R0jBe
If masks lead humans into a more perfect or non-human world, whether desirable or not, is AI a kind of mask? Are the "stars" only human or are they also godlike? Will the "stars" remain human beings or can they be swapped out by images on screens or holographs?
Maybe this is just a tempest in a teapot and AI is merely a tool that will be used to satisfy human desire for some kind of unchanging otherworldly beauty, or as you say so well, the serene mask bringing order. But I do wonder what will happen to the human stars. Maybe they are a kind of god substitute and the shallow emptiness they represent will be detected and some kind of wrenching (more traditional?) spiritual mask will re-emerge.
I don't know if this interests you or is pertinent to your ideas but I myself am somewhat intrigued by the various representations of gods and humans thoughout history. Here is an article about the manifestation of Jeff Goldblum at a Madame Tussauds in Times Square:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/jeff-goldblum-wax-madame-tussauds
Just imagine the amount of energy and expense that went into duplicating Goldblum and all the other "stars" – to the minutest detail. Even the hairs on his head and face. What does this say about modern (western? northern European?) people in relation to the former (same?) men who made idealized images of gods? Why are humans so obsessed with this phenomenon? Or at least certain humans.