Noh and Kyogen Presentation in Kyoto

Another announcement from H-Japan...

The upcoming Kyoto Asian Studies Group meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 217 at Kyodai Kaikan. Our speaker will be Jonah Salz (Professor of Comparative Theatre at Ryukoku University and Co-founder and director of the Noho Theatre Group and Traditional Theatre Training). His paper title is "Virtual noh: negotiating the authentic with the fascinating in introducing noh to foreign audiences" (see below for abstract).

Sponsored by the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies

For information on access:

http://www.kyodaikaikan.jp/access.html

http://www.shirankai.or.jp/facilities/access/image/map3_e.gif

Please remember that you may bring only bottled drinks (with caps), no food.

Abstract:

Noh and kyogen has aimed to enlist foreign patrons in its striving for recognition abroad and at home as the highest of human artistic achievements. First in translations, then in performances for invited foreign dignitaries, finally in tours abroad, noh managed to become well-known among students of Japan and theatre.

In the past few decades, NHK, noh producers, and foreign academics have produced internet sites, video, dvd, and cd-rom aimed at non-Japanese audiences. This lecture examines the various means to present noh virtually, including explanatory tracks, subtitles, documentary, voiceovers, and "behind the scenes" views. At the same time, the power relationships between noh performers and these mediating media will be explored.