Joyan Masks

Joyan Masks are an accessory commonly worn on the Isles of Joy. It is oftentimes donned by followers of Joyism, the isles' cornerstone ideology, with the purpose of disguising one's identity, embodying a character, and playfully exaggerating physical features for purposes of play and ritual. Worn in public at all times of the day, the guiding pillar is showing themselves to the world not as they outwardly are but as they see themselves to be. Masks vary in design and shape, and may range from simply covering the wearer's eyes to concealing their entire face. Although most followers tend to wear masks, many find alternative in facepaint and make-up, using it for similar purposes of self-exaggeration.

Some Joyans commission their masks from artisan Maskmakers, while others choose to create one themselves, either from scratch or from pre-made foundations. As such, masks tend to be highly personalized, and thus always reflect the character of the wearer, both in the choices they chose to make and in the choices they didn't make. The mask oftentimes serves to intentionally point to one's own flaws and negative features in a sign of self-awareness, while overly positive reflections tend to be associated with shallowness and self-centeredness. Masks have historically been created with materials such as plaster and wood (which both tend to be the materials of choice among artisans), although in recent years they have often been replaced with plastic. While the foundation of the mask tends to be painted a plain white, Joyists are encouraged to color it in ways that represent them.