“Crisis because WE REPEAT WHAT WE DON’T REPAIR” - Mask Making

Course Code: MSJ11211

The theme of the Curriculum Integration program of this semester was based on the Broken Window theory and we were to participate in a mask making project in relation to this theme, our works were later showcased in an exhibition hosted at the Shilpakala Academy for public opinion and criticism.

In 1982, James Q. Wilson and George Kellin used broken windows as a metaphor to explain the concept that each problem that goes unattended in a given environment affects people’s attitude toward that environment and leads to more problems. However, in modern days using simple words this theory can be described as- if an issue in any given society is not attended to for a certain period of time, it will give birth to more issues. In practice though, this theory can be further used as a metaphor to say that it is like the early stages of cancer in terms of society.

Figure 1: Final mask for exhibition

Message

Even though our concept on the matter was clear, after doing intensive research and gaining knowledge on it, we felt very challenged to highlight the issue of Broken Window theory on a mask. We wanted to show something that is not limited just within our society/societies but rather something that could be relatable on a global level. Our goal was to send out a message that showed the bigger picture, that had been the result of the broken window theory for more than a decade, we wanted to highlight the impact it had in the world today.

Our team chose to exhibit ocean pollution in our mask making project, simple as it may sound, it is one of the biggest issue in the world right now and it didn’t happen overnight. Societies and nations likewise had been abusing their neighboring rivers and seas with waste materials they need to dispose, without thinking of the consequences that are being faced today. With time, all those waste materials kept building up and the result is devastating, today ocean life is going through a major crisis, and that is because we have let it become like this. In our mask we were able to successfully highlight Ocean Pollution relating it to broken windows theory.

Layout

After settling on what we wanted to portray, we realized that we had to get creative since we are using the mask to represent society as a whole that is affected by the broken window theory. In order to make sure that our mask really speaks to the audience we decided that instead of just painting we would also use regular modern day wastes on our portrayal so that it gives the people a general idea about how it starts, our modern day wastes included used plastics, used up cigarette’s filters found on the road, thrown out straws and bottles. Not ending there, next we used old and broken toys like a bus and car tires, the last but not the least to highlight wastes from factories we used toilet tissue roll to show wastes getting through and out of tunnels and contributing to the mass abuse of the oceans.

Using the details above mentioned we made it the hair of the mask that went from on top till the eye level. Just below the eye level, we drew some dead ocean life as to highlight the direct affect from those wastes, and below that we highlighted the still unaffected part of the ocean. Although the details used in these reports might not give one a clear picture but the photo of the mask provided will clearly show hard the work that had been done, and done so carefully.

Painting

Painting and Installation: The mask was painted using water colors and oil paints. There were no printed images, it was completely hand painted and real objects were used to signify the aspects of an installation art. The chin layer of the mask was presented as the natural deep ocean/ocean floor and the top layer of the mask (representing the hair/head) was presented as the pollution that us humans are causing to it. The face of the mask highlights a bridge that is connecting the head with the chin, showing the process of the piled up waste pollution from the head to the cleaner part of the ocean.

Exhibition

The opening day of the exhibition was held on the 26th of April at Bangladesh Shilpokola Academy and the exhibition continued till the 29th of April and our mask was placed around the middle of the wall where all the other masks on the same theme were displayed. It was in the exhibition, we realized that our peers were very creative in making their masks, maybe more creative than us if not equal. Every mask that was displayed in the exhibition was just too real, all of them were able to highlight the broken window theory with their own way of executing it. There were so many different ideas and portrayals of the CI theme, that not only the artists, who made them happen but also all the other students, faculty members and guardians and friends who went as audience, were very impressed and satisfied with the visual treat provided to them. Although our team did wish keep the mask in order to exhibit it later, elsewhere, we were not able to since the Head of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism took a liking to our mask and asked if he could take it to showcase in ULAB. This, in itself felt like a very big achievement for each member of our group considering the hard work and creativity in making it possible.

Feedback

A total number of 5 people were interviewed on the opening day of the exhibition, one of them was a faculty member, three of them were students, one of them was a parent and last but not the least, one of them was among the teaching assistants.

The reason for us to interview a faculty member was that, we wanted to get the feedback from an expert regarding their understanding of the portrayed mask, the students because they had worked on their own masks in the same exhibition so we wanted their reaction since they are our peers and they have their own ideas on the theory, the parent was interviewed because he had taken some special interest in the mask without being linked to our group in anyway and the Teaching Assistant was asked so that we could get an insight of someone who is a senior in the same field institutionally. The questions asked were however simple, “what do you understand by looking at this mask? Can you relate it to the broken window theory?” Despite the fact that we did not inform the interviewees our own perspectives, we got back similar response regarding our own ideology on the display. The spectators got our message without any noise since the portrayal of the Broken Window theory was very clearly shown and everyone was able to relate to it, also rather understanding the concept of it even more clearly.

Realization

Although we did not have to go through much trouble or make any visible mistakes while working on this project, we came to realize that the outcome was only possible due to sheer teamwork as each of our group members have contributed to work in this project and if this was not the case, many blunders could have happened. We also realized that being creative is not about showing how much can be done and how much can be shown, rather using only the necessities needed something meaningful can be created. If we had to do it again, we would probably do something of similar nature that has a powerful impact in the current status quo on a global level in order to highlight this issue. This project has helped us grow and practice our critical thinking regarding the various issues that are present in our societies. It has also helped us to understand the various issues that need to be fixed in a society to develop itself.

Photographs

Figure 2: Exhibition of mask in Shilpakala Academy

Figure 3: Group Members of this project

Conclusion

This project had been the most challenging for us up till now in our University life, challenging as it may be, it was still the most fun and creative project that we had worked on. While doing this project, we had to do a lot of research on this topic “Broken Window Theory” so that there are no loopholes in the final outcome and as it happens, we succeeded. This project also allowed us to brainstorm and share our views and opinions on the matter, allowed us to understand that the problems we face in life are much easier to diminish that the problems that are being faced by many on a large scale.

Ocean life is a very big part of the world’s system, it is the home to thousands of different species, but as it happens, because of our abuse, fish’s and other species in the oceans are facing a huge crisis. Oceans are being consumed by all the toxic that we dispose in substantial amount but from all over the world, and since it had been going on for some time, this has become a major issue and is contributing to the destruction of wildlife ecosystem and to some extent global warming.