Behind the Mask: Why I Wrote The Market's Painted Veil
When I sat down to write The Market's Painted Veil, I wasn't just observing the world; I was feeling suffocated by it. I wanted to capture the terrifying reality of the "commodification of beauty"—this idea that our faces and bodies are no longer just parts of us, but products to be packaged, edited, and sold. Writing this was an act of rebellion against a system that constantly tells me, and everyone I know, that we are not enough until we are purchased, liked, or validated.
In the first stanza, I started with the image of the "Masks." When I wrote "Faces trimmed to fit the lies," I was thinking about the violence we inflict on ourselves—whether it's through literal surgery or just the digital surgery of a filter. I felt a deep sadness writing that line because "trimming" implies cutting away parts of who we are just to slot into a mold that society built. I used the bold text—borrowed eyes, worth complies—to mimic the loud, aggressive voice of advertising that shouts over our own quiet truths. I wanted the reader to feel that pressure to conform, the way I feel it every time I scroll through a feed of identical, perfect faces.
The second stanza is where the anger really set in for me. I wrote "Beauty weighed like gold in scales" because I wanted to expose the transactional nature of modern love and admiration. It feels like we are meat in a market or gold in a pawn shop; our value fluctuates based on the current trend. When I wrote about "Dreams caged" and "false light," I was mourning the loss of genuine ambition. We aren't dreaming of connection anymore; we are dreaming of being "seen," which is a very different, colder thing. I felt a heavy heart realizing that the "wind's hard gales"—the harsh criticism of the public—can bruise a heart that is just trying to be loved.
By the time I reached the third and fourth stanzas, the poem became about the loss of the soul. "Crowds chase their own mirrored ghost" is perhaps the line that haunts me the most. It came from a feeling of dissociation—looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger because I’ve spent so much time trying to be what the "world wants most." I wanted to express the exhaustion of that chase. The final lines, "Bodies bartered for applause" and "Souls decay beneath false laws," were my breaking point. I realized that the cost of this transaction isn't money; it’s us. We are rotting from the inside out, preserving the shell while the fruit spoils.
Ultimately, I chose the rigid, 7-syllable structure and the repetitive AAAA rhyme scheme to make the poem feel trapped, just like we are. I didn't want the poem to flow freely; I wanted it to feel like a march or a machine. Writing this wasn't just an exercise in rhyme; it was a way for me to scream without raising my voice, to point at the "painted veil" of our culture and say, I see you, and I know what you are doing to us.
It's been 10 years since Beyond the Mask movie came out in April-6-2015 and I have to be honest with you guys: it's totally awesome movie I've ever watched! It's about on the run in the American Colonies, an ex-mercenary named William Reynolds (Andrew Cheney) must regain the trust of the woman named Charlotte Holloway (Kara Killmer) he loves by redeeming himself from a life of murder and becoming a masked vigilante to overthrow the British-ruled colonies while racing against time to foil a diabolical plot during the American Revolution. This is one of the Christian movies that have U.S. history in there.
Welcome back to Lamon Reviews. Today is our stop on the bookblast blog tour for Beyond The Mask by Thomas Grant Bruso.
Remember to enter todays giveaway as Thomas Grant Bruso will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found…
🔆What am I going to say? What is the caption going to be??....... Should I talk about the guy that saw me shopping in the Ontario LCBO ( liquor store)? I was wearing gym clothes, half parka and a full mask. I could tell he was looking into my eyes by the eye exchange beyond the masks, but I could also tell that he wanted to let me know but didn’t know how to say it. Nowadays, by wearing masks we are all speaking with our eyes. He finally had the courage to tell me, “I like your pants”. If I were a single girl, or even the girl who I am now, the best compliment to give a girl is to tell her “you have beautiful eyes”. You cannot go wrong with this!! We can no longer see smile, so that is out. Or is it....... it could be a 😀clever way to say so, because really, that would start a conversation!!! When I worked and lived in Rome Italy, that was the most grocery store, everyday compliment a man gave a woman “che bei occhi che hai” - “What Beautiful eyes you have”. So gentlemen, if you see a girl/guy you like, I suggest, you tell her/him “what beautiful eyes you have”, because that will certainly make their day beyond the mask!!! 💫💥✨💟 ☮️&💟 to you all!! 💜💜💜. . . #beyondthemask #beyondthemasks #eyessayitall #complimenttheeyes @carmeliaray (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/COwhaFYBJ85/?igshid=8w6ie7rk6gi7
Posted @withregram • @italyinisrael #nevergiveup: that is the name of the campaign launched by @lapoelkann_ and LAPS foundation to raise funds in favor of the @crocerossaitaliana . Many VIPs from sports & arts joined & wore a 🇮🇹 mask to remind of the strong resilience of #Italy. To donate for those most in need: nevergiveup.tinaba.it/en.html #beyondthemask https://www.instagram.com/p/B_QSURLqHWs/?igshid=vqmtt2bbmupq
In this very difficult moment for our world it is important we unite and support each other. Let’s all do what we can to help. #beyondthemask #nevergiveup https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7MSMzHtQ8/?igshid=1nz6ktm3xdwcf
#powercouple I love a couple who can support each other, have their own careers and still find time for each other. It's rare in this world, especially in #Hollywood plus look incredibly sexy doing so. @karebearacares @andrewcheney my angel Kara is always breathtaking but when she smiles the world stops. #Chicagofire #beyondthemask (at Palmer Heights, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxGxsO6lMBU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cbwmy9vuxsix
