The Mask - The Actor and the Action

“The actor produces in the air a writing; he writes with his body, he is a writer in space.”
(Ariane Mnouchkine)

Theater is an ancient art that is part of humanity's cultural and artistic expression. Since its origins, it has been capable of inspiring, moving, and transforming people and society. Over time, theater has utilized various forms to give voice to many contents, and the mask has been one of the elements present on stages since Ancient Greece (in Western theater) and Noh theater (in Eastern theater), promoting the expressiveness and creativity of the actor.

Thus, the mask plays an important role throughout the history of theater, serving both to characterize characters (for example, in the manifestations of Commedia Dell'arte) and to assist in theatrical pedagogy, allowing the actor to create diverse characters and explore their creativity and expressiveness through exercises with masks, communicating through their body (like the Larval Masks of Jean Jacques Lecoq).

The I Encounter of the “Theatrical Scene” Study Group, known as EncontrArte, seeks to deepen reflections on masks, the actor, and action on stage, opening space for investigations into both their formal aspects (languages, resources, staging methods, etc.) and their dialogical relationships with arts, media, and contexts, as well as their historical and social development.

In addition to providing a space for reflection on theater in general and masks as a form used within this medium, this event aims to introduce students of language, researchers, and interested individuals to this category, bringing reflections on contemporary manifestations that utilize masks. The meeting is organized by the Theatrical Scene Study Group at USP, which is affiliated with the Research Group and Literary Productions for Children and Young People - CNPq (USP), led by Professor Dr. Maria Zilda da Cunha.

The event, which will be held in a hybrid format—both online and in-person—will include lectures, round tables, workshops, and artistic presentations, focusing on masks in theater and their relationship with the actor and action on stage.

-

Workshop: Introduction to Korean Theater Masks

• Date: November 6, 2024 (in-person with online streaming)

• Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

• Facilitator: Bruna Meneghetti Inoue

• Overview: Masks have been present in Korean theater since the earliest periods of the Korean Peninsula's history. Initially, the use of masks was closely tied to rituals; however, over the centuries, Korean masks have developed distinct characteristics unique to each region. These changes have led not only to a rich aesthetic diversity in masks but also to an expansion of their purposes in contemporary theatrical representations.

  
  

First Part

1. Provide a brief historical overview of the presence and diversity of masks in Korean theater.
2. Explore the relationship between ritual and masks in Korean theater.
3. Present materials and stages involved in mask production.

Second Part
4. Engage participants in a physical activity involving the use of masks.

• Target Audience: Open to all; no prior theater experience is required.

DYNAMICS:

1. Introductions and a brief discussion on the group's existing knowledge about masks in theater and Korean theater (duration: 10 minutes).
2. Presentation with slides and videos covering:
   • Historical overview of masks in traditional Korean theater
   • The relationship between masks and ritual
   • Use of traditional Korean theater masks in contemporary productions
   • Overview of the mask-making process (duration: 45 minutes).
3. Quick theater games to promote group integration (duration: 10 minutes).
4. Physical activity involving masks (duration: 45 minutes).
5. Closing remarks (duration: 10 minutes).

• Total workshop time: 120 minutes

• Number of Participants: 20 spots available (pre-registration required).