Japanese Theatre NOtes

• Japanese theatre is a living theatre
• Amazing
• Passed down traditions from generation to generation
• bunraku, noh theatre, etc...
• In what ways are these forms reactions to traditional theatre?
• Apply it to non-traditional forms
• training forms
• Mishima Yukio
• produced 13 noh plays, in a modern theatre setting
• Single Sex Plays
• Kabuki theatre only started off with women
• Transformed into prostitution
• Wasn't about the plays anymore, it was about the nudity
• 1470 full-fledged theatre
• 14th century prior - literature, dance, artforms
• recognition of theatre form in art 
• all artforms became a part of theatre
• Characteristics
• text speaks itself - not ordinary dialogue
• fluid narrative stance - break the speeches up - not logical narrative story
• Aesthetics are key
• flexibility of time and space - time can be shifted to match the play - common sets used for symbolism - scenes are created with off-stage areas - Hanamichi ramp set runs into the audience
• centrality of form - movement, texts, costumes, music are not for pragmatic purposes - used for aesthetic purposes (as stated before in point 2) - Eg, old man traits are represented by taking the most beautiful aspects of old men and showing them
• Concealing of the tearful eye
• Bunraku - weekping puppets bite sleeves (shaking) to show crying
• Kakegi
• Recognition through widespread use - musical patterns
• The people Vary speed, timing, intensity, design, colour
• Mastery of form and training
• Question of interpretation - you have to go a long way before you can do this
• To rehearse at the very end - Kabuki
• Form diminishes interest in verisimilitude - The element or aspects of reality that you evoke through the actions of reality. - Eg, good sci-fi writers are good at verisimilitude (random things that are made)
• Intensity of intertexuality
• theatrical mechanics of theatre
• Originality Vs Traditional form
• Traditional japanese theatre is where fluid transitions between time space character...
• Traditional japanese theatre is presentational theatre vs representational theatre
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