#HTE

The Masks We Wear (30 photos)

We wear masks for many reasons: for fun, for protection, or to make a statement. In turbulent public settings, obscuring one’s face can protect an individual from retaliation while evoking fear and uncertainty in others. Donning the mask of a cultural, political, or religious figure can ridicule that person, or lend them power and further their legacy. Those who wear masks to protect their faces from environmental hazards may also end up sending a message of caution to observers. In many cases, though, masks play a more lighthearted role, allowing the wearer to take part in a festival and become someone (or something) else for a time. Once again, I’ve gathered here a few recent images of people wearing masks, covering their faces for a wide variety of reasons.