Preview

History of Women in Japanese Theater

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2380 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
History of Women in Japanese Theater
Women in Japanese Theater

The history of women in Japanese theater is the history of the social changes that swept the country in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Actresses at this time progressed from a point where they were not allowed to perform at all to the point where they were celebrated artists.
Although it would be intriguing to tackle womens history in the theater across the entire period, the source book, Acting Like a Woman in Modern Japan, is so packed with information on so many aspects of women in the theater that the topic is overbroad. This paper therefore will discuss only selected topics: the role of men in the theater in the absence of women; the advent of actresses into the profession, and what it was like for the first women who broke into acting. With these basic topics as support, well move to the main point: the way in which revealing the physical body on stage, notably in Salome, came to finally define women in the theater in terms of their physicality, and whether this is a breakthrough or further restriction. The paper also defines the vocabulary common to the theater as necessary.

The idea that actresses are little better than common prostitutes is common in all cultures that have a theatrical tradition, and in Japan at least, it has some basis in fact. Some prostitutes used their stage appearances to advertise themselves in sensational dances that resulted in riots and disorder. Because of this, women were completely banned from appearing on the stage in Japan from 1629 to 1891. Initially they were replaced by the wakashu, akin to the boy-actors in English theater of the Elizabethan period (Kano, p. 5). Unfortunately, it soon became evident that the wakashu incited as man riots as the women did, and they were banned as well. That left only adult males available to act, so they took on all roles, including female roles as well. â Applying thick white powder and rouge to their faces, donning elaborate

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The works of contemporary artists such as Yasumasa Morimura, Julie Rrap and Anne Zahalka recontextualize the way gender is attributed with art via the post-modern frame. The main channel used to achieve this idea has involved the reversal of roles of gender, where the woman is depicted as the dominant character and the man must subjugate and adjust himself to suit her body position. The artworks targeted by these renowned artists are well known established pieces that are historically rich and evaluate the zeitgeist of their time; these traits are still evident within the metropolis of today. All three artists focus on the theme of gender and all seek to challenge the traditional view of the role of gender in visual art, yet their individual target audience centres on different facets of society, though what holds true is their voyeur. Yasumasa Morimura chooses to shock the viewer by replacing the female role with himself; this appropriation challenges our attitudes towards arts masterpieces and whether they are still valid in this…

    • 1540 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shoe Horn Sonata

    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In act one: scene 1 Bridie and Shelia, the two fictional characters, are a visual and dramatic representation of the women who faced the real life experiences of the Australian and British female POW’s captured while trying to flee from Singapore in 1942. In 1996 John Misto created a dramatized staged production which exposed a “untold story of hundreds of women imprisoned by the Japanese in South East Asia as a ringing indictment against Australian indifference to the lots of these women”. Distinctively visual features are purposefully included from the play’s opening scene to aptly recreate the reality of their past experiences, which begins in complete darkness. Two deliberate and commanding hand claps are they first things you hear, this is used to capture the attention of the audience. The word “Keirei” is cried out upon command by the male Japanese guard, gender and power inequality are further established as an older women’s emotive dialogue is heard giving instruction to how to bow, in tribute, to the Emperor of Japan. A spotlight shines down on a women who is demonstrating how to bow properly, she is stiff…

    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Japanese cultural values and their aspiration for being a united society have grown out of the nation's unique history and cultured philosophy. These ancient roots have touched every aspect of Japanese business from the way formal gatherings are conducted to the significance placed on after-hours socializing. By realizing and adjusting to this business culture, Western executives keen to do business in Japan will be able to be more productive in associating with their Japanese colleagues and will increase the likelihood of achieving the objectives of their conferences. It is important to comprehend the role of the female entertainer in Japanese culture, which is why the Geisha has a particular role. However, geisha women are often confused with prostitutes.…

    • 687 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    If a person who thinks they have it tough with their job takes a look at the fact that a young Japanese or British girl worked longer hours, got paid less, and put up with horrendous working conditions, that person might reconsider their statement. Despite the fact that Japan and England had many similarities with female mill workers, they still had a few differences. Young children and women worked in big dangerous factories known as mills, spent more hours then the average working person today, making thread or fixing machines. So how were their experiences different? Female Japanese workers had to work more, got paid less, and accepted the role that their society gave them.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cloudstreet

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Have you ever wondered where the origins of theatre began? It is a well-known fact that the earliest forms of drama were developed in Ancient Greek by philosophers interested in using entertainment for social and philosophical commentary. It is essential that young people are exposed to the earliest form of scripted drama as it provides a foundation for understanding dramatic styles and conventions which are the basis for all the theatre which followed.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    | Both Cogan and Chan examine the changing traditional women’s roles in Japan by showing how female artists redefine their positions in society through their works. On the other hand, Darling-Wolf focuses on how the reconstruction of masculinity has successfully attracted many female fans.…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the film, ‘All About Eve’, Joseph Mankiewicz presents a world of contradictory standards between the forces of a man and a woman that transcends back in 1950s, where women, such as Eve Harrington, are conceive as cold-blooded and merciless as they pursue differently from the society’s expectations, by the means of chasing their ruthless ambition. To an extent, Eve’s immoral actions is what may have influenced us, audience, to dislike Eve. However, Eve reconstructed her own identity with the heavy pressures coming from the society, Eve only wanted to find that sense of belonging and to be adored by everyone, and she find that the ‘theatre’ is a place that she can call hers. Furthermore, the conservative attitude of society on gender roles during the 1950s may also have an effect on the audience’s hatred on Eve. This film highlights the inequitable roles of being a woman and how men are treated differently by the society.…

    • 1119 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Tokugawa era Japan was a very different period than those before it, instead of proving loyalty and honor on the battlefield it was drawn from more diplomatic situations. The Tokugawa period brought with it an era of lasting peace for nearly 250 years, and with it came different ways in which to occupy ones self. Many things in society changed including, the warring ways of the samurai where honor was drawn from the strength and skill turned into peaceful times when martial skill was practiced to maintain. However, besides the peaceful times many things remained the same about the Japanese social structure. Men and women still were very aware of honorable behavior, which held the basis for social culture. Although some similarities between the two were apparent, the more interesting seem to be the ways in which women were observed to display honorable behavior. The seemingly confined life of a women was very basic yet very strict in conduct. While men presented the strength of the household outside women held up the integrity of the house from within.…

    • 1189 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Is it true to say that the representation of women and femininity has had limited development over the last 25 years… or would it be more accurate to say that these representations have dramatically changed? Has stereotyping become less accurate and more common or has the Romantic Comedy genre developed its representations to break female stereotypes? This investigation aims to explore these questions and, ultimately, to evaluate if the representation of femininity has developed over the last 25 years. Also, to find out to what extent the female role within Romantic Comedy has changed. Exploring the representations of female characters by comparing and contrasting the representation of femininity in the chosen texts; Pretty Woman (1990) directed…

    • 1764 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    twelfth night

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Shakespeare's Twelfth Night examines patterns of love and courtship through a twisting of gender roles. The play centers on the lead female role and protagonist, Viola, who disguises herself as a made-up young man, Cesario. In Trevor Nunn’s film version of Twelfth Night, Viola is portrayed by a female actress. On the other hand, in the Globe Theatre’s more modern production of Twelfth Night, the entire cast is played by male actors. As you can see there isn’t a black and white, wrong or right, approach to the portrayal of this renowned production. One must consider the vast differences on the societal views of sexuality and gender roles of today’s culture versus the 1600’s when this play was written. As James C. Bulman notes, “By 1999, the idea that gender is performative rather than innate had circulated widely” (75). In Shakespearean days it wasn’t uncommon for men or young boys to play all roles required in a play, even those which involved love affairs. However, today the majority of people would be uncomfortable and almost unsettled to see young men kiss on stage or vice versa. When reading the play I automatically created my own mental movie, as most readers and audience members do, which involved all female roles being played by female actresses and all male roles being played by men. Although I have not seen the Globe’s production of Twelfth Night, I believe that I would personally favor Nunn’s…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Women's Role In Othello

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages

    By exploring the role of woman in Othello and other Shakespeare’s plays, this essay has demonstrated literature is most successful in dealing with a worldwide issue like gender role. A memorable play is a successful play. Gender inequality, a current critical subject, is an important theme found throughout the play. It has powerfully developed the readers’ feelings towards the subject and the play, making it unforgettable. Shakespeare’s plays are truly…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Japanese American Women

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In this article, Leslie Ito describes the experiences of Japanese American women during their time behind the barded wired fence and their movement from camps to colleges . The article argues that while living in the camps these Japanese American women sought out to earn an educational degree and become representatives for their Japanese American communities. NJASRC a non-governmental committee group created by member of the Japanese American community became the driving force behind the movement from camps to college. This opened up greater opportunities for Japanese American women, more than they could have ever imagined. It gave these women the opportunity to leave the camp and go to college to become ambassadors for their community…

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gender Roles in Movies

    • 2479 Words
    • 10 Pages

    In contemporary film women's roles in films have varied quiet considerably between genres, geographical placement, and between…

    • 2479 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first thing you notice when looking at the advertisement is the dress of the model. She seems to be wearing a kimono with a generic Asian print on it. Oriental fashion was popular during the 1920’s because of the famous plays and operas portraying Eastern Asian women, likes Madame Butterfly. White women were always used to portray the main role of a Japanese woman. Not only does this take the roles from Asian actresses furthering the lack of representation of actual Asian women in the media but it also enforces the idea of using East Asian Culture as a costume or a performance. The first woman to take on the role of Cho-Cho San , the main character of Madame Butterfly, was white American actress Blanche Bates. She was seen as a Yankee…

    • 301 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    * All classes of Japanese women lost role of celebrant in religious ceremonies and replaced in theatrical performances by men.…

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays