Oscar Wilde and James Baldwin on Masks

Two sides of an issue from which we hide

Stock character masks from the commedia dell’arte tradition (public domain image)

I recently watched a documentary about Venice, Italy, that mentioned the tradition of masked balls or masquerades. A staple of historical dramas, the masquerade has the air of mystery and spectacle. Those invited to the party wear masks to conceal their identities and mingle anonymously.