African masks at the At the St-Eustache' Flea Market in Paris flickr
Now that we are all wearing masks, is it time to ask if there is a deeper cultural meaning to them? Look around you and you will notice that many of us are not satisfied with a simple, light-blue, hospital-grade surgical mask. They now come in all colours, patterns and shapes that say more than: “I’m just being careful”, even if it’s only that the wearer cares more about fashion than public health.
If, for instance, you consider the history of African ritual masks and ancient European theatrical masks, you may conclude that “Covid masks” have something in common with traditions that reach back into human prehistory.