ABSTRACT
Recently, in the United States, masks, a longstanding and effective tool in drama therapy, have been placed into service in health humanities programs working with combat veterans suffering from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dealing with the challenges of homecoming. Broadly, such programs have used masks in two distinct ways: as self-constructed objects that act as a kind of physical fetish for the treatment of traumatic memories, or as character masks in performance works where they can become intense focalizers of strong emotional states and a means of enacting powerful narratives. This article focuses on two programs that have applied masks to veterans’ projects: Aquila Theatre’s Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives public humanities program, which uses mask workshops and masks in performance and the art therapy mask program at Walter Reed National Military Medical center.
