The 21st century has brought two opposite trends in image culture: a “selfie” and a trend to hide, alter or mask the face. The “selfie” has a reputation of being annoying, vain, and even addictive; the obscured face is either disturbing, or fascinating and entertaining for a viewer. Depends on the circumstances.
Literally faceless creatures (like Slender Man) can be found in Mythology of many nations around the world. A mujina is a creature with no face that can shape-shift into human form. Japanese immigrants brought this folklore to Hawaii. In 1959, a woman was reported to have seen a mujina comb her hair in the women’s restroom at a drive-in theater in Kahala, and when the witness came close enough, the mujina turned, revealing her featureless face.
That must have been scary.
There is also an assortment of the hooded and cloaked beings – Faeries, Grim reapers and others. None of them is after any good.
Whomever we meet we do want to see their face. Not because we have a phobia or something. We simply want to communicate, work, have fun and just be with someone we can relate to. And we all know that faces tell more than words.
What the obscured face means for it’s owner? Erased identity, insecurity, or inviolable privacy? All of above? What if it is not their choice?
The Doors, “I can’t see your face in my mind”.
Album Strange Days
1967
Here is an article about a plane crash survivor, Stephanie Nielson. Here is her blog. If any of you are going through the hard times, read her story.
Barbra Streisand with Andrea Bocelli “I Still Can See Your Face”
Photography tip of the day: Scan your old photographs to preserve them. Visit the same places and the same people. Reenact your old images.
Have a great week!
Making memories 
Great and unique read and shots, wow!
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Think the way the world responded to the crisis in West Africa has been a wonderful thing and hope somehow this will carry forward to other parts of the World where there seems pointless conflict.
You never know what or who comes round a corner, this is the mystery and the wonder of it all.
Love and graditude To you Inese …xxx
Fascinating post , photos and videos , thank you Inese …I discovered you from John Flanagans poetry comments and am so grateful for the connection and will certainly follow your beautiful journey …blessings ,xxx meg
Thank you so much! Your poetry is stunning! I want to read more 🙂 blessings! inese
I’m glad you found me, your blog looks very interesting can’t wait to see more. Sounds like you’ve had some IT issues hope all the kinks are worked out 🙂
Thank you! Yes, an issue, and I have no spare time to handle this issue…. Getting there, anyway 🙂
Interesting perspective on something I’ve noticed and been amused by but not thought much about. I started seeing friends using fragments on their faces, and eventually did the same for my gravatar image, all without linking that to the endless in-your-faceness of the selfie. For me, the hidden-face photo isn’t about wanting to hide, it’s just that it made me laugh. I published a novel recently, which meant I had to go through serious photos looking for a serious image of myself to use for publicity–but not too serious (my editor suggested) because the novel’s not entirely serious and, of course, I didn’t like any of the photos except for the ones she’d rule out. After all that kerfuffle, the picture of me with my turtleneck pulled up to my eyes cracked me up. I’ve been using it ever since.
Ellen, thank you for commenting! I love your gravatar picture! 🙂
What made me write this post – first of all it was an assignment I had been doing at that time, and also the blog I mentioned, of a wonderful woman whose face was disfigured in an accident. I am following her blog to get inspired when I think I am getting less than I deserve… Thank you for sharing your thoughts!