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The Colorless Mask: Insight or Insult?
Josh Tolentino | 12:26 AM on 02.05.2009 5 comments




The always-intellectual Leigh Alexander of Sexy Videogame Land and Gamasutra put up a great feature on Kotaku the other day entitled "Persona 4: Reflecting The Self". It contained some deep thoughts about Persona 4, and you know I likes me some deep thoughts 'bout Persona.

In a nutshell, it reflects on how the series exploits the potential of the silent protagonist to encourage the players' introspection, allowing their own natures to impress themselves upon a story that is otherwise unalterable, and ponders some of the differences between Persona 3 and Persona 4 in that respect.

It's quite a good read, and I won't do it an injustice by attempting to paraphrase it here, but one point in particular struck me:

"...many stalwart fans prefer the “darker” vibe of the third title, with its inferred undertones of suicide, depression and sexual deviance. P3’s distinctly forbidding feel, though, comes mainly from its almost negative take on the concept of the persona...P3 employed the multiple-persona concept to suggest a character who wore many different masks, but kept his heart hidden. Success in the game’s social relationships usually depended on telling characters precisely what they wanted to hear – even if it wasn’t the right thing, and even if it conflicted with beliefs and behaviors you chose to express with other characters. Underlying message? Starkly nihilistic in its own way, suggesting that all others ever really know of your “self” is the mask you choose to show them."

She had made an observation that I remembered a user on the GameFAQs message board had also made, though of course with more eloquence and less vitriol. The GameFAQs user had brought it up during an argument about whether the player character in P3 was actually the villain of the story.

And here's where the title of this post comes in. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. The Colorless Mask is a special item awarded to the player for completing a game with all of the social links raised to their maximum level in one playthrough. The item enabled the summoning of the most powerful and customizable persona in the game.

If you've read the above, the Colorless Mask is a fairly obvious reference to the, the idea that the player could choose whatever masks he wanted. Some, including that GameFAQs user, regard that implication as somewhat negative, and in its most extreme interpretation that the game was essentially insulting you, turning the selfless hero into an opportunistic villain.

That raised an interesting cultural point in my mind. Is the Colorless Mask a badge of pride or a mark of shame?



In my estimation, the answer seems to depend on your social values. Western societies greatly prize individualism, and revere the character that holds on to his or her identity in spite of everything that happens. Countless works of fiction and games follow the course of a character finding out who he or she "really" is, and using the strength that results from that revelation to defeat the enemy and save the world. As a result, being called "plastic" is regarded as a terrible insult, that the insulted is a cipher, a nonentity, without weight, worth, identity or influence.

But what about other, less individualistic cultures? For example, Japanese society seems to put value in compromise, being able to put aside selfish personality traits and work in harmony with others. While being called a cipher is still pretty bad, being a bit "plastic" every now and then could be considered a positive.

By that tack, one might think that the Colorless Mask isn't so much a sign that the player has no identity, but that the player himself has reached the end of The Fool's Journey. Such a person can make any and all relationships work in harmony, achieving the greatest power, and in this case saving the world. This might not sound humanly possible, but then again, attaining ultimate self-knowledge usually involves transcending one's humanity.

It isn't just Persona 3 that seems to emphasize this "colorless" state. I'm no expert, but as I understand it, an egoless state is a part of gaining enlightenment and achieving Nirvana. On a related note, is it any surprise that The Fool's number is zero, and that the ensou, a circle, is strongly associated with Zen Buddhism?

Again, it really depends on the viewer. It's kind of funny, considering how our cultures and beliefs can "color" our interpretations of the Colorless Mask.

Note: I'd compare this to P4, but Ms. Alexander already did that in her article, and I'm not even a quarter into P4, so I can't make a good judgment. Also, please don't spoil P4 for me.



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5 comments | showing # 1 to 5

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garison's Destructoid Blog
This article kind of lost me. (Granted, I still have to actually PLAY Persona 3), but it is waiting for me when I have the time.

Unanbanfkay, you are a great writer. You have enslaved me one more time with your beautiful analysis of the Persona games. And that comic stip is freaking hilarious.
Tactix's Destructoid Blog
I agree with Garison in that you are an excellent writer :D
The-Excel's Destructoid Blog
I hate freshmen.

Sometimes I feel uneasy in the fact that I'm rewarded only for telling people what they want to hear from me instead of revealing my true feelings. It makes me wonder if working out what the best answer is during a Social Link episode is a gameplay mechanic. (This might be why reviewers attribute dating sim elements to Persona 3 now that I think about it.) Then again, I'm what you call "brutally honest". Even in the physical world, if your art is bad, I'm going to let you know for your own good, unless it's just annoying, in which case I'll dedicate my life to ruining yours until you get the clue. I don't know. I don't like using my real name in games like this so maybe that's just me.
Char Aznable's Destructoid Blog
I don't know a goddamned thing about the Persona games, but I just wanted to give you a shoutout because I enjoy your writing and your blogs never gets enough attention.

Only three comments, people?
NihonTiger90's Destructoid Blog
Make that five comments, Char.

I haven't finished Persona 3 yet, but this is a real interesting take on some of the mythos behind Persona 4. I probably never would have dove this deep into the game myself. Great job. :D


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 about me

I'm Josh "unangbangkay" Tolentino, and this is my cry for attention.

I also write for Japanator. Come visit, and see me gush about things not directly related to video games. Or not. But hey, diversifying interest in me is definitely something I wouldn't mind.

My Portfolio Blog: Death by Eroge!

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-Thoughts on The Escapist's Piracy Issue
-Sorry Doomsayers, Japan Isn't In (much) Development Danger.
-Can Critics Be Trusted When They Don't Trust Themselves?
-The Colorless Mask: Insult or Insight?
-Your Fate is in the Cards: "The Fool's Journey" in Persona 3
-Persona 3: The Rest of The Fool's Journey
-Thoughts on Piracy: Why My Eyelid is Twitching
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