The Gei of Geisha: Music, Identity and Meaning

ISBN-13: 9780754658573 / Angielski / Twarda / 2008 / 160 str.

Kelly M. Foreman

Opis

Explains how musical art is an essential part of the identity of the Japanese geisha rather than a secondary feature. This book details the musical genres and traditions with which geisha have been involved during their artistic history, as well as their position within the traditional arts society.

Recenzje

’This is the first book to focus on the art (gei) of the geisha and to position musical skills at the center of geisha life and identity ... Much of the material about geisha repertoire and history is not readily available in English. The final chapter is especially engaging. Summing Up: Recommended.’ Choice ’... this book is an insightful read, both informative and entertaining, bringing to life an area of Japanese society that continues to be steeped in myth and intrigue.’ Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies ’In this well-crafted book, Kelly M. Foreman takes on the pervasive conception of Japanese geisha as exploited erotic entertainers, and argues that the center of their professional lives is their dedication to traditional Japanese performing arts. ... The Gei of Geisha should attract those interested in the social phenomenon of female performing arts, as well as those interested in the arts themselves.’ International Journal of Asian Studies ’The Gei of Geisha is a beautiful and much needed work that fits nicely into Japanese musical studies. Scholars and everyday readers alike would gain a new perspective on geisha from this book and, ultimately, because of Foreman’s convincing detail, on what truly makes a geisha an artist - her gei (art).’ Ethnomusicology Forum 'This book is essential for anyone considering the scholarly study of geisha from an ethnomusicological or an anthropological perspective.' Ethnomusicology

Spis treści

Contents: Preface; Introduction; Repertoire and training; Geisha performances and how they are constructed; Geisha and traditional arts society; Entertainer vs. artist: patronage and the negotiation of identity; Understanding geisha and gei: eroticism through ambiguity; Bibliography; Index.

O autorze

Kelly M. Foreman teaches in the Department of Music at Wayne State University, USA.