This photo is very unnerving when you first look at it.

All of the masks, like

with much of Meatyard's other works, are not really meant to be pretty or
portray beauty as other cultural masks might. These masks are all very sad
and droopy. Some of them look like they are about to melt off the people's
faces. What is also interesting to me is the people in the picture. At the very
front is what looks to be a small child. The people then get older and older as
they get further up the picture. However, what is important to note is the
fact that all of the people, including the children, are wearing these ugly
masks. I think that this could be saying something about society and
families. In researching Meatyard and the context of this photo, I have
learned that this is of his family. I do not know if these are the actual
members of his family or are just meant to represent them. I think there is a
tie between the similarity of the masks and the familial aspect of this
picture. Because each member of the family has grown up together, their
masks are also similar. The parents have been taught to wear these masks,
even though they may be ugly and disheveled, so they teach their children
the same thing. These masks hide the true character of these individuals. As
the viewer, we cannot see who the person behind the mask is. We do not
know what they actually look like, we only know the masked version of
themselves. I think that this has to do with the way people portray
themselves to their “viewers”. People put on these masks to hide their true
character. They do this because this is what they have been taught. Overall,
Meatyard is pointing out the dehumanization of masking.
This image is titled Lucybelle Crater and her regular mother Lucybelle
Crater, which I think is a very interesting and relevant title. This image, like
all of Meatyard's other work, is in black and white. I believe that this choice of
color (or the lack thereof) is symbolic. Much of his work deals with the effect
of masking ourselves. I think that his work is representing the lack of “color”
or personality in our own lives. This particular picture is interesting because
of the title. The title shows that this image is depicting a family. However, the
title also suggests that the individuals in this family are all the same. First of
all, they have the same name, Lucybelle Crater. Both of these individuals are
also wearing masks, although it is harder to tell about the mom. Much like
the previous picture, this image has strong ties to familial influence. The kid
has been raised to be exactly like his parents, even covering up his own
personality with one that has been carefully crafted for him (the mask). He
does not get to be himself. Instead, he gets to be the person he is made to
be. He has no choice in the life that he lives or the person he portrays. He is
simply a body to be occupied. This is similar to A Dolls House in which Nora
feels like she is a doll inside her own house. The main reason she feels this
way is that she has no responsibility or control over her situation. She feels
like her true potential is made and she can only be the person that her
husband is telling her to be. Her husband is making the mask for her to
wear.
This picture is titled Lucybelle Crater and 20 year old son’s 3 year old son,
also her 3 year old grandson Lucybelle Crater. This title, at least at first
glance, is very confusing. However, it is just saying that this picture is of a
grandma and a grandson. I think it is interesting that this title is so
convoluted. It comments on the almost pointlessness of words and being. It
is almost pedantic and unnecessary. Also, like the previous picture title, both
figures in this picture are named Lucybelle Crater. However, what is different
in this case is that this similarity bridges two generations this time instead of
one. This shows the generationalality of the ideas that Meatyards work is
discussing. The family has influence over the people that are a part of it for
generations to come. What is also interesting about this picture (as well as
the others) is that the masks are always the same. He uses the same few
masks for all of these pictures, showing that it is all related. It also further
emphasizes the similarity and fakeness that each of these masks represents.
These masks are not ones that are meant to look real. They are meant to look
absurd and unrealistic. However, this simply adds to the point that, when we
mask ourselves, we make ourselves look unrealistic. I think that this is a very
powerful message. Meatyard is exploring the idea of masking who people
truly are. However, as these images point out, the masks that we craft for
ourselves (or that other people craft for us) are often ugly, unappealing, and
unrealistic.