As the title of the video makes clear, these bunraku performances are from over 60 years ago. And the modern form goes back almost three centuries before that. That's...really something. These puppets can't really be described without using the phrase "eerily lifelike." Which makes it a little unnerving to see the head working without the body.
Friday, April 17, 2020
I got no strings
As the title of the video makes clear, these bunraku performances are from over 60 years ago. And the modern form goes back almost three centuries before that. That's...really something. These puppets can't really be described without using the phrase "eerily lifelike." Which makes it a little unnerving to see the head working without the body.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Bunraku puppetry is a very beautiful artform, isn't it? The dolls themselves and the costumes are magnificent too. That each puppet requires three different operators is unique and the fact it takes about twenty years of training and performing to be experienced enough to manipulate the right hand and head of the lead puppet shows the level of respect the culture has for seniority.
I see what you mean about the heads being a bit unnerving. They can also be switched in a second from normal looking to demonic which would also be an intense surprise for an unwary audience member.
There's something beautiful and inspiring in in such a collaborative form of puppetry. Mind, that might also be part of the reason why it's been hard to reproduce or transplant outside of Japan. There are exceptions, though. There seems to be a troupe operating in San Francisco.
Yes, they can potentially switch their apparent moods like that. You can also begin to wonder if there's something beyond the obvious making them move.
Post a Comment