Response to Bunraku Video

Here are some possible questions I may want to explore about Bunraku

Why is the action onstage with the puppeteer and the chanter exposed so transparently to the audience?

"When the puppeteer and the puppet are in harmony, it is as if the puppet were the only one onstage"
How is this possible?

What role does spirituality play in Bunraku?

Why do the puppeteers sew the costumes themselves?
(to inject themselves into their characters)

Why do the puppeteers wear those platformed clogs?

Why is there only one rehearsal between the chanter and the puppeteers before the performance? Does this enhance the art form in some way?

How does the Japanese custom of respect for elders effect Bunraku?

What effect does the music give? Is the training for the musician as intense as for the puppeteer or chanter?

The puppeteer says in the video that his first entrance is crucial to the character, as it gives the audience their first impression. Does this relate to Japanese culture in any way, in that Japanese society make put greater importance in first impressions?

What are the connections between Bunraku and physical theatre? The chanter uses his whole body in the performance, although his part is more verbal on the surface.

General Notes

"One life was not enough to train as a chanter. I wanted one more"
--to become a master of Bunraku takes a lifetime
--different from Western tradition
--more commitment

The teacher gives very specific directions
--from my experWience, directors try not to do this and call it "line reading"

--entirely male cast, very traditional

-The chanter never feels his performance is perfect

In-Class Response

Watching this video, my introduction to Bunraky, has left me wondering why Bunraku is so different from more Western theatrical practices. From what I can tell so far, Bunraku as a theatrical tradition is heavily rooted in Japanese culture. Some interesting culture aspects I noticed were that Bunraku is male dominated, much like Elizabethan theatre was during its time, and also seems to employ the ideals of respecting elders in the training. This was very evident between the older chanter and the younger one in a lesson with him, who was extremely respectful to him, and bowed frequently. When that older chanter went to work with a retired Bunraku master, he was also put in the same position.