Kabuki: Baroque Fusion of the Arts

by Toshio Kawatake

Kawatake Toshio

Genres: Art, Japan

358 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Gloomy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The colors in Kabuki are rich, dazzling, kaleidoscopic. So striking are they that, as soon as the curtains opens, Japanese and non-Japanese alike seeing Kabuki for the first time are known to gasp and break into spontanepous applause."

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into the subtleties of kabuki. My appreciation of kabuki is deeper thanks to the author's clear and insightful explanations. I can't wait to go see it again and look for some of the elements discussed.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a huge Kabuki fan, and at first the author's enthusiasm was a bit off-putting, but as I read his enthusiasm wore off on me, and his arguments convinced me. I thought his argument that Noh is classical, like ancient Greek drama, while Kabuki is Baroque, analogous to Shakespeare, was very compelling. Unlike many Japanese academics, Kawatake writes with logical analysis supported by clear sources. There's an index!! and a bibilography and list of English translations in the back. Too bad I don't get to chaperone the Kabuki trip this year!

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr schöne Einführung. Das einzige, was mich jedes Mal geärgert hat, war die Absicht des Autors, die Einzigartikeit von Kabuki in der Welt herauszustellen. Gerade in der Pekingoper gibt es doch einige Ähnlichkeiten, die aber jedes Mal von Kawatake verneint werden. Trotzdem eine sehr gute Darstellung aus der Praxis.