Trick or Treat...?

Tonight, as I sat passing out candy to children dressed as Cinderella and Sponge Bob, I caught myself musing at the idea behind dressing up as fictitious characters and being rewarded with candy. It seems odd to me, this coming from a Theater teacher, but I remember being excited about it as a child, and still get excited by the creativity of pulling together costumes. But why is that? Why do we like to parade around in costumes, disguised as something false? Is it for the fun? Or the outcome? I’m not altogether sure, but I propose that we do it more often than on Halloween…

As children, it’s playing dress up. As high schoolers, it’s prom. Today, it’s usually “dress for success” in our jobs. We love to walk around as fictitious characters, getting rewarded with life’s sweet morsels. In fact, some of us have never stopped wearing costumes long enough to realize the comfort of our own skins; we’ve learned to perfect the art of costume changes over time, and have grown accustom to the thrill of scouting out our next big transformation.

For some, masks are the key to the outfit; A prosthetic, and fixed cover to their true countenance.  For others it’s the accessories; flashy, excessive, easy conversation pieces that entertain the crowds. Some prefer homemade outfits; something their parents or loved ones have thrown together and made them wear around in public. Still others choose the store-bought classics; cheaply-made, fool-proof replicas of what the world sees as iconic and worth imitating. The list goes on…Each one of us has some preference or comfort zone, and each of us parade around in them day after day.

I have recently thought a lot about this idea of false personas and “peacocking,” as some call it. The fact that today is Halloween is only fuel for the fire. It only helps to concrete the fact that we as humans hold this fascination and desire for walking around incognito. It makes one stop and think long and hard about the fact that Adam and Eve were naked before the fall…

I am not writing this to be cynical. I enjoyed myself tonight, and I enjoy dressing up like the next person.  I am simply relaying some thoughts that have been hanging around in my mind as of late…I am sure this won’t be the last time I talk about this concept, but until then…..

Thoughtfully,

RDM