Japan's rich and varied performance traditions, old and new, born of different historical settings, coexist to this day and compete for the attention of audiences, domestically and abroad. The forms to be considered (Nohgaku, Kabuki, Bunraku, Shingeki and Butoh, among others) are all dynamic. Each has transformed itself in response to evolving social conditions. This course examines these performance traditions, considers how each reflects the social, cultural, and political context of its birth, and poses the question: "Of what relevance is this to a contemporary audience?" Some of the other questions we will explore include: How have these performing traditions transformed themselves throughout history? What do we mean by `traditional' vs. `contemporary'? How are traditional and contemporary performance genres interacting with each other? And how have the central themes of these works evolved? All readings and discussion will be in English. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: active class participation, presentations, written journals, two short papers, and one longer paper. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 17 (expected: 17). Open to all. This course is part of the Critical Reasoning and Analytical Skills initiative.

Hour: KAGAYA