Session 4 - July 7

[Deirdre Harris]

I was researching Kabuki theater and found an interesting article that described the various aspects of Kabuki theater from the Edo period and how some of the stage tricks were done. One aspect not mentioned before I found interesting. They had cables rigged to help people fly across the stage, and also had trap-doors in the floor so that characters could disappear if a scene was ending, or the storyline called for it.  It looks like performances are happening around the world, and there is a photo of one in San Salvador, with other interesting photos.  Here is the link if anyone is interested.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/photography/kabuki-japan-theatre-acting-traditional-modern-sexism-equality-a8716956.html

[Deirdre Harris]

Hello - Looking at folding screens from Japan, I came across a resource that I may use with my students.  It's written in an understandable way, and looks at important questions like:

1. When do screens date from?  2.  What were they used for?  3. What were the main themes?  4. Who were the leading screen painters?

. What can we tell from signatures and seals?  6.  How did production evolve over time?  7.  How did Japanese Folding Screens Influence Western Art?  8.  Are screens difficult to maintain?  9.  What should a new collector look for over time?

The website also has beautiful examples of some screens auctioned at Christies, and if anyone is interested here is the link:

https://www.christies.com/features/Japanese-screens-collecting-guide-7164-1.aspx

[Katharine Davis]

Thank you for sharing, Deirdre! This is a great resource!

[Deirdre Harris]

You are so welcome Katherine.  I am so happy that you found this helpful.  I was very excited when I saw the cool pictures and the great discussion questions.  Thanks to you too for always posting interesting things, that spark my imagination to go in different directions than I normally would have.  

[Ying Yu]

Those arms were well used in Japan. Japanese people are so wise, they redegined and reproduced guns which orginially from British. The religion rules in Japan were so strict. However, because the foundation of Japan is Shinto, so it is reasonable that the government during that period of time exclude Chrischan. Similar to China, Buddism were well embeded into local religion, so Japanese embraced Buddism so well.

[Ying Yu]

Samurai is so famous. Although I never learn Japanese history, I know this spirit is the core idea of Japanese culture. Both Samurai class and Samurai spirit are unique in Japan. It never form a class in Korea and China. The porcelins in Japan are so beautiful. I didn't realize Korea and Japan could make porcelins like China did. Noh theater is also unique in Japanese culture. In fact, the face mask looks so creepy. The smile on the face mask looks like smile, but sometimes like a crying face. It looks like ghost. I never watch Noh theater in real life. But I watched it on Youtube. The style of the show is very slow and classical . The backgound music is very gloomy. I would like to introduce this art style to my students

[Ying Yu]

Thanks for your recomendation! I would like to read the book. I also very interested in to know how the Guns in this period influence the later Japan of WarII period. Maybe there are some connections behind it. 

[Ying Yu]

Although Noh Theater has so much insightful meanings behind the show, I still can't finish watch it. I would like to compare Noh Theater with Peking Opera in order to compare the culture differences between Japan and China 

[Author]

Posts