The Gei of Geisha: Music, Identity and Meaning

Kelly M. Foreman (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

160 Seiten

2016
Routledge (Verlag)
978-1-138-25181-6 (ISBN)

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The Japanese geisha is an international icon, known almost universally as a symbol of traditional Japan. Numerous books exist on the topic, yet this is the first to focus on the 'gei' of geisha - the art that constitutes their title (gei translates as fine art, sha refers to person). Kelly M. Foreman brings together ethnomusicological field research, including studying and performing the shamisen among geisha in Tokyo, with historical research. The book elaborates how musical art is an essential part of the identity of the Japanese geisha rather than a secondary feature, and locates current practice within a tradition of two and half centuries. The book opens by deconstructing the idea of 'geisha' as it functions in Western societies in order to understand why gei has been, and continues to be, neglected in geisha studies. Subsequent chapters detail the myriad musical genres and traditions with which geisha have been involved during their artistic history, as well as their position within the traditional arts society. Considering the current situation more closely, the final chapters explore actual dedication to art today by geisha, and analyse how they create impromptu performances at evening banquets. An important issue here is geisha-patron artistic collaboration, which leads to consideration of what Foreman argues to be the unique and essential nexus of identity, eroticism and aesthetics within the geisha world.

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

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.

Erscheinungsdatum	07.01.2017
Reihe/Serie	SOAS Studies in Music
Verlagsort	London
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 234 mm
Gewicht	300 g
Themenwelt	Kunst / Musik / Theater ► Musik ► Pop / Rock
Themenwelt	Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
ISBN-10	1-138-25181-X / 113825181X
ISBN-13	978-1-138-25181-6 / 9781138251816
Zustand	Neuware