# Theater Masks

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 15, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282 "2016-04-15T17:12:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/1 "2016-04-15T17:12:12Z")

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Is there a name for the theater masks where one is smiling/laughing and the other one is frowning/crying?

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/2 "2016-04-15T17:18:40Z")

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I’ve heard them referred to as sock and buskin, or Thalia and Melpomene, referencing ancient greek attire associated with the two forms of theatre or the two muses associated with the two forms. But generally, I think people just call them the theatre masks or the tragedy and comedy masks.

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**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/3 "2016-04-15T17:22:13Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> I’ve heard them referred to as sock and buskin, or Thalia and Melpomene, referencing ancient greek attire associated with the two forms of theatre or the two muses associated with the two forms. But generally, I think people just call them the theatre masks or the tragedy and comedy masks.

I’ve seen them referenced as Greek masks.

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**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/4 "2016-04-15T17:31:22Z")

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Comedy and Tragedy

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/5 "2016-04-15T17:54:21Z")

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> [@Doyle](#):
>
> I’ve seen them referenced as Greek masks.

I can see why though without more context, I’d refrain from identifying them like that less people think I’m referencing greek theatre masks in general.

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/6 "2016-04-15T18:13:50Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> I’d refrain from identifying them like that less people think I’m referencing greek theatre masks in general.

Lest.

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**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/7 "2016-04-16T01:26:22Z")

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Another vote for Comedy and Tragedy.

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**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/8 "2016-04-16T01:43:10Z")

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“Comedy and Tragedy” or sometimes “Comedy and Drama.”

Also, generally Theatre Masks or Drama Masks.

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-masks/752282/9 "2016-04-16T05:44:13Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> I’ve heard them referred to as sock and buskin, or Thalia and Melpomene, referencing ancient greek attire associated with the two forms of theatre or the two muses associated with the two forms. But generally, I think people just call them the theatre masks or the tragedy and comedy masks.

^This right here. Good post, **Inner Stickler**.