Kelly Forman.The Gei of Geisha: Music, Identity and Meaning

Монография. Ashgate Publishing 2008 — 143 pp. ISBN 978-0-7546-5857-3 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 GeiL Eroticism Through Ambiguity 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.--jacket. Introduction -- Repertoire And Training -- Geisha Perfomances 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. Kelly M. Foreman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction. The geisha myths ; Persistence of the geisha-girl fantasy : gei at the periphery Repertoire and training. The musical repertoire of geisha ; Dedication to gei : training and musical transmission Geisha perfomances and how they are constructed : female performances in Japan, and the development of the urban theater traditions. The public stage performances ; The private performances : ozashiki and enkai Geisha and traditional arts society. Traditional music in modern Japan ; The dedication to ryū and iemoto ; The dilemma of multi-disciplinarity ; The question of a geisha musical style Entertainer vs. artist : patronage and the negotiation of identity. Financial burdens of the geisha ; Financing a professional arts career, and alternative strategies of patronage for geisha ; Artistic collaborations between geisha and patrons ; Contemporary barriers to arts patronage in the karyūkai ; Why entertainers would not need ryū Understanding geisha and gei : eroticism through ambiguity ; The interconnectedness of geisha, liminas, play and the erotic ; The suggestiveness of iki as liminal eroticism.