casey penk

masks

Majora’s Mask is the kind of game you could write a thesis about. Its philosophical depth is astounding, yet neither the gaming community nor the art community have really embraced it. A lot of it has to do with misconceptions. Gamers will call it too artsy (despite its deep, open-ended gameplay), simply because it functions as more than a vehicle for misogynistic fantasies. Art fans will call it too childish (despite its chillingly dark themes) simply because it’s a game. I suspect large swaths in both communities have never even tried it. It does have its cult fans, which is appropriate given its sheer oddity.

The game probably shaped many childhoods, the way Ocarina of Time did mine. Majora’s Mask almost certainly instilled in me an appreciation for life’s darkness, its fragility, its absurdity.

I’ve chosen quotes that, as much as possible, illustrate both an important aspect of that mask’s story and a universal philosophical point (about life, death, friendship, or another big theme).

This is a bit challenging when some masks are more mundane than others, but even the minor ones have some sort of color to them. When not deep, they are often humorous. Some will only make sense if you’ve played the game, and that’s okay too. It’s all the more reason to give it a try.

Best suited to 24 x 36 prints.

Designed in Illustrator. Inspired by Marinko Milosevski's Zelda movie posters and Genis Carreras's Philographics. Source material © Nintendo. Text from David Butler @ Zelda Legends. Images from Mases @ Zelda Dungeon.

February 2015.