JAPANESE THEATRE

TEXT: None

PREREQUISITES: None

OBJECTIVES: This class should serve to introduce the student to the structure and form of traditional Japanese theatre. Historical backgrounds will be traced to provide the proper cultural, sociological, and aesthetic framework for the study of Kabuki, the Noh, and the Doll Theatre. The development of all three major traditional theatre forms will be traced from origins in myth through growth in rural folk-dramas, some which are still performed today. The longevity of theatrical heritage in Japan is unique in world theatre and provides concrete examples of plays, theatres, acting styles, costumes, masks, props, and music that are without parallel. The course will concentrate on traditional Japanese theatre production forms and elements and will not attempt to cover the literature of the various play forms. The class will explore, in a larger sense, the integration of art and life that is unique in Japan. We will examine aesthetic notions that link warfare and tea, honor and religion, trees and temples - a way of life shaped by principles of beauty and devotion and passion.

GRADING: There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam of equal value. You may also elect to write a research paper or execute a graphic or 3-D project to be averaged equally with the two exams.
Class attendance will be taken. Less than three absences may positively influence a borderline average. More than three absences will result in a strict application of the final average.

CLASS SCHEDULE: Week of:

January 17 Introduction & historical background to Japanese aesthetics  

Shinto & Buddhism

January 24 Early theatrical forms - masked drama

Gigaku Masks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Bugaku Masks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

January 31 Class will not meet this week. Professor Ward will be in China. Use this time to do library research on the topic.

General Noh Information

The Great Torii at Itsukushima

February 7 The development of the Noh  Zen Buddhism

February 14 Influence of Zen and the Warrior Class

February 24 The Noh stage, costumes, masks and props

February 28 Training, tradition and the theories of Zeami

March 3MID-TERM EXAM

March 5-13 SPRING BREAK

The Tokugawa Art Museum

Okuni  Early Stage

March 14 Kabuki - early development  Text Only Kabuki Overview

March 21 Evolution of Kabuki form

March 28 Kabuki and the Tokugawa era  Summary of CHUSHINGURA

April 4 Development of the physical theatre

UKIOYE

A 17th Century Theatre  An 18th Century Theatre

April 11 The actor; acting styles, costumes and make-up  An Aragoto Actor Print

April 18 The development of the doll theatre

April 25 Joruri and Bunraku

FINAL EXAM: May 3 at scheduled class time.

THE HONOR CODE WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED IN THIS COURSE. ALL ASSIGNMENTS SUBMITTED SHALL BE CONSIDERED GRADED WORK, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR COURSE WORK ARE COVERED BY THE HONOR SYSTEM. HONESTY IN YOUR ACADEMIC WORK WILL DEVELOP INTO PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY. THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF VIRGINIA TECH WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.