This course is an introduction to classical Japanese noh theater through the lens of modern psychology. After becoming familiar with the structure and function of noh theater through reading and viewing of various plays, students will endeavor to write a noh play about an issue of personal and societal interest. They will present their plays in the final class.
Students will learn the brief history of noh theater and its roles in Japanese society. They will be able to identify the structural elements of noh and connect these to therapeutic practices of individual and social psychology. They will demonstrate their understanding of noh structure, techniques, and function by composing a modern noh play on a topic of personal and social interest.
noh, kyogen, classical Japanese theater
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
We will read and discuss a variety of noh plays in English. Short essays will be written on each play. Lectures will focus on the history, structure, and function of noh. Each student will compose a modern noh play, either a reinvention of an old play or a new one. Time permitting, students may present their play.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction to noh and kyogen | read Sumidagawa |
Class 2 | Discuss and watch Sumidagawa play | write short essay on Sumidagawa read the Iron Crown |
Class 3 | Discuss and watch the Iron Crown | write short essay on the Iron Crown read Tomoe |
Class 4 | Discuss and watch Tomoe | write short essay on Tomoe read Fujito |
Class 5 | Discuss and watch Fujito | write short essay on Fujito write a new noh play |
Class 6 | Watch and discuss kyogen comic theater | write a new noh play |
Class 7 | modern noh plays; student presentations | prepare presentation |
Class 8 | student presentations | prepare presentation |
handouts
Royall Tyler (transl., ed.), Japanese No Dramas (Penguin Books, 1992)
Donald Keene, ed. Twenty Plays of the No Theatre (Columbia University Press, 1970)
etc.
class participation (including presentation) 28%; short essays on noh plays 36%; original noh play 36%
ability to read and speak high intermediate level English (* Limited to students belonging to ToTAL. Students who are not enrolled in ToTAL should take the equivalent course from humanities and social science courses by ILA (course code starts with LAH.))