Introduction
Studying historical, literary, and graphic narratives, the theme of wearing masks is often presented as a means to discuss identity in a variety of societal contexts. Individuals wear physical masks to conceal their identities for personal, political, or possibly nefarious reasons. Under a mask, peoples of many cultures are allowed freedom to adopt alternate personas that can grant them symbolic or even spiritual freedom. Masks can also perform their basic function: to hide. This is not limited to simply obscuring a face, but can also be connected to hiding who you are as a person internally. French acting coach Jacques Lecoq expressed the view that “There are three masks. The one we think we are. The one we really are. And the one we have in common”1. Lecoq, while working mainly in the field of the theatre, is also recognizing how masks exist metaphorically in all our lives. This unit, titled “We Wear the Mask: Graphic Narratives and Identity” will aim to explore how masks are used both symbolically and literally in fiction and everyday life, and will be taught in the city of Richmond, Virginia at Thomas Jefferson High School. Through exploration of graphic novels, prose, and historical studies, students will engage with the concepts of how we present ourselves, how we view ourselves, and the barrier in between.
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