Khan Academy: Intro to Kabuki Theater

[Midori Sanchez]

Background: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/art-japan/edo-period/a/an-introduction-to-kabuki-theater

 

Video with Audio:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/art-japan/edo-period/v/ichikawa-danzo-iv

 

BBC Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/279h5SKvBrM9whwDpJWNbjn/the-actors-are-well-rewarded-in-cambridge

 

Because I have grown to have more of an interest in Kabuki theater during the seminar in addition to the use of woodblock prints in understanding more about the time period, the actors, and the culture of theater of the time. In order to tie this back to the curriculum of 9th grade English, I will use this in conjunction with a BBC article on the actors during Shakespeare’s time as I will be teaching Romeo and Juliet. My district in LBUSD is very into Khan Academy and having all teachers use it in the classroom at least once per year. I have used it for grammar instruction and homework with my English classes and would like to embed history into the classroom more to support their understanding outside of my classroom. It will not impact my instruction too much either since students will be familiar with the website and how to get started. It’s also important to have students read more non-fiction texts.

The first link will give students background on theater including the facilities and the makeup of the actors. Even with Shakespeare’s time, the stage itself is one that I like to spend time on by looking at pictures and discussing. Although Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was an outdoor theater, I can definitely show students the transition to performing indoors and what impact (negative-- use of candles can be hazardous; positive-- ability to have performances in the evening; comfort and protection from elements such as rain or cold) having an indoor theater could have.

Within the video on the 2nd link, it will be easy to refer back to the woodblock print since it is kept in the background of the video while the scholars speak about it. Words such as “tone” are used in context of the attire of the actors which is important for students to hear; this word is one that students may only expect in relation to literature instead of all types of art or conversation.

 

 

[Daniel Horowitz]

The video does a good job showing how Kabuki theatre reflected, exagerated, and lampooned Japanese society. I like the musical accompaniment. I also like how the Khan Academy lessons end with a historical discussion not dissimilar to the discussions we have here at the East Asian forums. This is a resource I can definitely use with my students and it's a great way to enhance the history curriculum. It shows how history is both storytelling and discussion, and sometimes debate. It is an evolving, organic, dynamic process.

[Midori Sanchez]

I'm glad you found use out of this! Khan Academy is great at providing resources for all ages, many subjects, and in a succint way. You can also easily track students' progress and time spent working if you want to use that as a factor for grading or to see that it was completed.

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