Essay on The Kabuki Theatre and Prostitution

Throughout America and the entire world, prostitution flourishes. Prostitution is another never ending war like abortion, which society feels is immoral. This immorality leads functionalists, who apply functionalism to this social problem, on a chase to figure out why prostitution is what it is today. Functionalism is the best theory for looking at prostitution. It allows us to see how prostitution changes along with other aspects of society.

Abel, Gillian, et al. Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers fight for decriminalisation. Policy Press, 2010. Part two: Implementation and impact of the Prostitution Reform Act (2003): the first five years: Review of the PRA

Nevertheless, during the 1860’s and before, “variety” shows were strictly for-men-only and were performed in boats, concert saloons (also known as honky-tonks and dive bars), tents, churches, and just about anywhere a troupe could set up a stage and proscenium (Gilbert 10-15). The Second Great Awakening, a time in America when fundamentalism was being played out on a political scale that would shape America’s future, made its mark on theatre (D. 46). An early theatre owner, actor, and promoter Tony Pastor is considered to have transitioned variety shows in the 1860’s from what were considered to be “dirty” shows to “clean” ones. Moreover, this also brought in both male and female patrons which essentially doubled the income (Stein 3). Whether

"A Philosophy of Theater « " East of Mina. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.

Having knowledge and involvement in both the acting and the technical aspects of theater, I expected the production to deliver a qualitative performance that gave its audience the full experience. This experience is achieved by the elements of theater such as acting, lights, sounds, props, costume and set design

Theatre has been a prevalent form of entertainment for centuries. As time has progressed, the meaning behind theater has shifted to adapt with society appropriately. Different genres of theater have been emerging all throughout history and continue to emerge even today. There are so many different genres of theatre that any individual can relate to it. One can easily recall the major genres of theatre: drama, comedy, musicals. However, it is the sub-divisions within these major genres that evoke unique performances and experiences.

The term Burlesque is usually thought of as slightly naughty theatre produced and performed between the 1890s and World War II. Webster defines it as a literary or dramatic work that seeks to ridicule by means of grotesque exaggeration or comic imitation, mockery usually by caricature or theatrical entertainment of a broadly humorous often earthy character consisting of short turns, comic skits, and sometimes striptease acts. Today Burlesque has no meaning as a contemporary phenomenon to most Americans. Burlesque is far from the commonplace twentieth century definition. The background, rise and fall of American Burlesque takes place in less then forty years. The entertainment known as

Before I had applied for the Summer MA program for theatre educators, I knew my teaching of dramaturgy was lacking. I had no systematic way of analyzing a script and being able to pull out the important aspects of the author’s intentions. Many aspects of theatre history and dramatic interpretation had been left out of my education. After classes my appetite had been wetted, I purchased a number of books to continue my education over the winter break, one of the books was “History of the Theatre 10th Edition” by Oscar G. Brockett and Franklin J. Hildy. Even though an overview of some much history it has lead me to want to teach so much deeper lessons to my students. After the eye-opening dramaturgy classes my mind has been washed with ideas on how to proceed, so much information had been given to us, I find it hard to concentrate on a single area. I truly look forward to teaching this year and these lessons.

When I arrived in the U.S., I faced a cultural shock. Although I had grown up speaking English, I discovered that American English, colloquial expressions, idioms and literature were all different than what I grew up with. So I attended several acting programs to polish my instrument in the context of American acting as well as to learn about the literature, human struggles and stories that have shaped the history and development of American theater.

Forms of entertainment around Japan include the Geisha, multiple versions of theater, also anime and manga. In short, the geisha are a group of courtesans who provide entertainment such as dancing and are very charming to their customers. In the theater they offer different styles, Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku, and there are also many different stories that can be told upon the stage. Kabuki uses all male actors dressed in extravagant costumes, Noh also uses

Just as we cannot pinpoint the exact moment we learn our own names, I can’t recall when my love for theatre began, but it must have been around the same time. I don’t remember a time I hadn’t been fascinated by storytelling and performance. This childhood amusement only strengthened when I started going to school and we’d put on plays for parents, and started reading and discussing literature later on. To me theatre means the perfect alliance of performance, art and academics. It represents to me all the every-day aspects of life while also holding artistic value. My love for literature comes from my unwillingness to be bored.

Prostitution is ambiguous to define. The Macquarie dictionary defines prostitution as 1. the act or practice of engaging in sexual intercourse 2. any base or unworthy use of talent, ability, etc. But the act of prostitution involves many other associated facets that are included under this extensive act. There’s the act itself, soliciting, advertising, pimping, house brothels, street prostitution, phone sex and even computer sex.

To what extent does stage design impact, influence, and enhance a traditional Kabuki theatre performance, more specifically, in the eighteenth century play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees) written by Takeda Izumo II, Namiki Senryû I, and Miyoshi Shôraku?

In Kabuki theatre, everything that is seen on the stage is the result of a meaningful inner dynamic which completes the performance by the coordination of the actors with all the various components of the mise-en-scène and then by the traditions of all the various elements being assembled into an organic whole (Kawatake 1990, 247).

Before I entered this class, my imagination about what sociology is wasn’t of what it came to be after this class ended. First of all, before coming to this class, I didn’t know that prostitution was a social problem. I understand that being a prostitute is a sin, however I don’t think that a person should be punished by a society for being a prostitute. In other words, I thought that if a person is making money on his or her own body, it wouldn’t be a societal problem. Coming in this class, I have the knowledge that gay, lesbians or any other sexual orientation that isn’t heterosexuality was something that only exists in one’s mind and that if a person want to change their sexual orientation, he or she could. Therefore, in this class, after learning about sexual orientation, I accepted that people are born different and as society we should all accept that. Sexual orientation somehow I feel should require more large-scale intervention. In a lot places, LGBT people are discriminated. If God only created female and a male and that they only should be attracted to each other, let him only judge those whose feelings are different from what the bible states.