About this Event
BEHIND THE MASK: ANCIENT RITUAL, MYTH, AND MODERN HORROR
Masks have always held a paradoxical power: they conceal while also revealing. In ancient rituals and mythological traditions, masks were not mere disguises—they were portals. From the ceremonial masks of African and Oceanic cultures that allowed participants to embody spirits, ancestors, or deities, to the Greek tragic masks that amplified human emotion and divine fate, masks have long been used to blur the boundary between the human and the supernatural. In Mesoamerican traditions, masks were worn in rites of death and rebirth, transforming individuals into gods, animals, or cosmic forces, dissolving the ordinary self into something otherworldly.
In this talk, John Bucher explores how the ritual functions of masks—invoking fear, transformation, and awe—find new life in the world of horror cinema. Just as ritual masks once mediated encounters with the sacred or the terrifying unknown, horror masks from films such as Halloween’s Michael Myers, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s Leatherface, or Scream’s Ghostface similarly strip away individuality to embody archetypal fear. These masks transform killers into symbols—forces beyond humanity, embodiments of death, chaos, or repressed cultural anxieties.
By placing ritual and mythology side by side with modern horror films, this talk will ask: Why are masks such enduring tools for confronting what frightens us? How do they function as thresholds between order and chaos, human and inhuman, life and death? And what do these parallels reveal about our deepest fears—ancient and modern alike?
Tickets: $12 (In Person & Zoom options available!)
A recording of the talk will be shared a few days after the event.
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions
About the Presenter:
John Bucher, PhD, is a renowned mythologist and story expert who has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, the LA Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and on numerous other international outlets . He serves as Executive Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is a writer, storyteller, and speaker. John explores mythology as the stories we use to make sense of the world around us.
John has consulted and worked with government and cultural leaders around the world, as well as organizations such as HBO, DC Comics, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, A24 Films, Atlas Obscura, and The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation, bringing his deep understanding of cultural narratives and myth to a wide array of audiences.
He is the author of six influential books on storytelling. Holding a PhD in Mythology & Depth Psychology, he integrates scholarly insights with practical insights, exploring the profound connections between myth, culture, and personal identity. His expertise has helped shape compelling narratives across various platforms, enriching the way stories are understood, told, and experienced globally.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes.
ACCESSIBILITY
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PARKING
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
USD 14.64
