star wars - Why does Kylo Ren wear a mask?

Is there an explanation on why Kylo Ren wears that mask in The Force Awakens? It even has a voice synthesizer and everything.

It makes him look like a Darth Vader fanboy and really tries to be/look/sound like him.

It doesn’t look like he needs it or anything.

Answer

Psychological warfare. Vader was the death dealing wizard right hand man of the evil emperor for well over a generation. More than likely, his image is still enough to put a good portion of the population in fear. By taking up the mantle, so to speak, he is making a clear statement about the terror and power that he represents.

To put this in perspective, imagine if, in the 1970's (let alone today) someone rose to power wearing a certain uniform with a red sash around his arm with a funny symbol on it, a swept haircut, and a little mustache. His belief and intent would be instantly clear to everybody around him. He would be drawing upon the associations with the look of that person, using it as a tool. In the 1970's you would have a combination of people who survived the war as well as children born and raised in its shadow, all completely familiar with the faces of those famous people associated with it.

Just so with the time period in Force Awakens, we are a little more than a generation past from the downfall of the Emperor, and the tremors from the war continue to resonate.

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