Iconography of Japanese Performative Arts
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The teaching aims to offer to the students reading and comprehension tools of the music, theatre and more in general of the Japanese performative arts world through their visual representations. Considering the strong influence that Japanese culture and its philosophy had and continue to have on Western thought and artistic production, the course will identify the main categories of performative arts and their characteristics (aesthetic concepts and symbolic values linked to gesture, space, costumes, stage objects) by analyzing artistic and historical materials and assimilating the specific terminology. Students will reach the capacity to identify the several forms of performative arts and their main iconographic materials, and the acquaintance of basic aesthetic concepts useful for a better understanding of Western music and theatre developments and productions contaminated by Japanese performing arts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge of the principal forms of performative arts of Japan and their main characteristics; capacity of analysis of iconographic references and acquaintance with an adequate Japanese/English terminology in the field.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Part A (20 hours, 3 cfu)
Introduction to the classical forms of dance and theatre: nō, kyōgen, kabuki, bunraku, through their artistic representations - textile, painting, applied arts, the colours and architectural space of theatre.
Part B (20 hours, 3 cfu)
Introduction to contemporary performative arts through their artistic and photographic representations, and the remaking of classical forms by contemporary artists.
Introduction to the classical forms of dance and theatre: nō, kyōgen, kabuki, bunraku, through their artistic representations - textile, painting, applied arts, the colours and architectural space of theatre.
Part B (20 hours, 3 cfu)
Introduction to contemporary performative arts through their artistic and photographic representations, and the remaking of classical forms by contemporary artists.
Prerequisites for admission
Capacity to read and understand texts in English
Teaching methods
The course is held with frontal lectures and/or as seminars supported by visual materials (ppt and video) and the participation, where possible in person or by remote connection, of external guests, professionals and actors of Japanese theatre. Other teaching materials and communications will be given through the Ariel teaching online page.
Teaching Resources
General manuals :
-Giovanni Azzaroni, Matteo Casari, "Asia: il teatro che danza : storia, forme, temi", Le lettere, Firenze 2011.
-Bonaventura Ruperti, "Storia del teatro giapponese. Dalle origini all'Ottocento", Marsilio, 2015
-Bonaventura Ruperti, "Storia del teatro giapponese. Dall'Ottocento al Duemila", Marsilio, 2016
-Jonah Salz, "A history of Japanese theatre", Cambridge : Cambridge University Press 2016
-Atti Aistugia, Venezia 2020, saggi nella sezione Arti e Spettacolo:
file:///Users/rossellamenegazzo/Downloads/AISTUGIA%20VENEZIA%201-12-2020%20con%20COPERTINA.pdf
On Aesthetics:
- Kuki Shuzō , The structure of Detachment,
https://www.google.it/books/edition/The_Structure_of_Detachment/2PmiT_rrPGQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kuki+Shuzo+iki&printsec=frontcover
- Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, "In Praise of Shadow"
About Noh theatre:
- René Sieffert ( a cura di), "Il segreto del teatro Nō / Zeami Motokiyo", Adelphi, 1996
https://minerva.unimi.it/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991008603049706031&context=L&vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=it&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,zeami&offset=0
- Presentation of Kyōgen and Noh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDS2Rub--RE
About kabuki consult:
- Julius Kurth, Sharaku, Munchen : R. Piper & Co., 1922 (exh. cat. available at the Library in via Noto)
- Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan ( edited by), Sharaku, Tokyo : Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan 2011 (exh. cat. available at the Library in via Noto)
- ukiyo-e woodblock prints catalogues available at the Library via Noto (to be indicated during the lessons)
On Butoh and Noh consult:
TDR, Volume 44, Number 1 (T 165), Spring 2000, The MIT Press
https://muse-jhu-edu.pros1.lib.unimi.it/article/32985/pdf
-Giovanni Azzaroni, Matteo Casari, "Asia: il teatro che danza : storia, forme, temi", Le lettere, Firenze 2011.
-Bonaventura Ruperti, "Storia del teatro giapponese. Dalle origini all'Ottocento", Marsilio, 2015
-Bonaventura Ruperti, "Storia del teatro giapponese. Dall'Ottocento al Duemila", Marsilio, 2016
-Jonah Salz, "A history of Japanese theatre", Cambridge : Cambridge University Press 2016
-Atti Aistugia, Venezia 2020, saggi nella sezione Arti e Spettacolo:
file:///Users/rossellamenegazzo/Downloads/AISTUGIA%20VENEZIA%201-12-2020%20con%20COPERTINA.pdf
On Aesthetics:
- Kuki Shuzō , The structure of Detachment,
https://www.google.it/books/edition/The_Structure_of_Detachment/2PmiT_rrPGQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kuki+Shuzo+iki&printsec=frontcover
- Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, "In Praise of Shadow"
About Noh theatre:
- René Sieffert ( a cura di), "Il segreto del teatro Nō / Zeami Motokiyo", Adelphi, 1996
https://minerva.unimi.it/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991008603049706031&context=L&vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=it&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,zeami&offset=0
- Presentation of Kyōgen and Noh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDS2Rub--RE
About kabuki consult:
- Julius Kurth, Sharaku, Munchen : R. Piper & Co., 1922 (exh. cat. available at the Library in via Noto)
- Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan ( edited by), Sharaku, Tokyo : Tokyo Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan 2011 (exh. cat. available at the Library in via Noto)
- ukiyo-e woodblock prints catalogues available at the Library via Noto (to be indicated during the lessons)
On Butoh and Noh consult:
TDR, Volume 44, Number 1 (T 165), Spring 2000, The MIT Press
https://muse-jhu-edu.pros1.lib.unimi.it/article/32985/pdf
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam. The student is required to have a brief exposition (a few minutes) on a topic chosen from those treated that demonstrates a capacity for bibliographic and iconographic research and an autonomous critical capacity as well as an exposition with an adequate language. The teacher's questions are aimed at ascertaining the understanding of the concepts and knowledge of the terminology of the sector, and of the main forms and characteristics of the Japanese performing arts. The result is expressed out of thirty and communicated at the end of the discussion with immediate approval.
L-OR/20 - EAST ASIAN ARCHAEOLOGY, ART HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Menegazzo Rossella
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
on appointment