We all put on masks sometimes. For example, pretending to be interested in a topic or at least listening when we are not, to not hurt the feelings of the one talking. And there are numerous such examples in life.
About what is or isn't for an audience. I hear this lame excuse made a lot on TV: if that's what the public wants... The public, as a whole, is like a child. Gets bored easily, but can be educated. Or manipulated, depending on the purpose.