Japanese Kabuki Theater cont.

In this video you can see the traditions of the music, and the special effects used commonly in Kabuki.

Interesting Facts
 -The male crowds were so out of control during the original performances, women were banned from performing. however this did not change the reaction of the audience. Even though the actors were all men, the audience still reacted the same.

 -Before the ban of women in Kabuki, the actors were usually prostitutes, or based their movements off of them. Even after the ban of women, male actors used the same seductive movements of female prostitutes.

sources


-http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/kabuki.shtml

-http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2090.html

-"The World of Theatre" By: Mira Felner ; Claudia Orenstein
copyright 2006  Pearson Education Inc.

Japanese Kabuki Theatre

This art form was created by Okuni, a female shrine attendant in the 17th century. Originally preformed in the dry bed of the Kamo river. Okuni, dressed in mens clothing and a christian rosary, preformed scenes of assignations with prostitutes. Kabuki, originally meaning "tilted" or "off-kilter", is now written with the three japanese characters music, dance, and craft or skill. During this time Kabuki was frowned upon for its immoral content in the confucian orientated culture of the time. So in 1629 the Tokugawa banned women from preforming in the style. 


Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts, love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. Actors speak in somewhat monotonous voices accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments. The costumes of the performers usually held the family crest of the actor, giving honor to the family. 

In this Photo the traditional Kabuki stage is shown as well with a few of the special effects that were used. 

In this photo we see 3 actors during a scene. Two of them portraying women, this is part of the Kabuki tradition. 

First pic of the week! (test post)

This is what you might call a parody. Its a combination of the two films "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Dark Knight". And yes, this is photo shopped.