In Defense of the Mask

Everyone assumes a mask exists to conceal the face beneath it.

I've always thought that was a rather unimaginative way of looking at masks.

Sometimes we perform most convincingly with our faces uncovered.

Sometimes anonymity removes the performance.

Behind a mask, there is no reputation to maintain. No biography hovering over the sentence. No familiar name reminding the hand holding the pen what it is and isn't supposed to write.

So yes, I wear one.

The question you should be asking is whether you're looking at the mask now...

or the woman underneath it.