»That sugarcane that tasted good
That’s cinnamon, that′s Hollywood
Come on, come on
No one can see you try
No one can see you try«
– from: Imitation of Life, R.E.M.

Behind masks we become part of another world, we can put ourselves in a different state or moment of change and transition. In this context, the history and codes of cinema can be treated in just the same way as the universal themes that invoke them. Through imitation and rituals, we exorcise our demons and celebrate our angels or idols − our inner and outer worlds, what is allowed and forbidden. Behind masks we become a monster for others, which in turn becomes a part of ourselves that we control and follow, transforming it into a marketable, acceptable commodity. Through mimesis, we shorten its claws or its spike. Alienation becomes a central theme in role-play and representation. In the illusory world created by film, everything is imitation, masquerade, reference and quotation. Can we only become conscious of ourselves through masquerade? Putting on masks is a way of jointly dramatizing our own differentness. Although rituals and costumes can be found in many things that make up a collective, a person behind a mask is always conspicuously lonely. It brings out the ego in us, the desire to find a place in the group or to give it up again. The portrayal of an individual behind a mask creates an arena for the hidden traits of humanity and explores the fears and urges we only become aware of when we share them in the community.
– Nicole Rebmann