Laughing like in the “good old days”? The Boom of Rakugo and Yose Engei in the 21st Century

Description

More than 40 years after the famous rakugo-ka Tatekawa Danshi predicted the death of the art of comical storytelling, yose engei still seems to be as alive and well as ever. In fact, the 21st century has seen a veritable boom of both rakugo and engei in Japanese vaudeville, as well as in film and on TV. Artists often stress the traditions of their performance and audiences often enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere that reminds them of the "good old days". But what is the current state of rakugo and other yose arts in the 21st century? How do these forms of entertainment compete with, or benefit from, mass media such as television, film or the internet? How do artists reflect on their role as "old-fashioned" entertainers and how does it influence their performances? When is tradition real and when does it mainly serve as a strategy for marketing or image branding? These were some of the questions examinded in this symposium.

Period	11 Oct 2013
Event type	Conference
Location	Vienna, AustriaShow on map