Ib Theatre Ri Noh Costume Essay Example for Free

Ib Theatre Ri Noh Costume Essay Noh is known as the classical lyrics drama of Japan. Noh is a combination of serveral dance and drama forms that came before it. (Noh and Kyogen) It embraces the peoples love for the religious and cultral traditions that involve the mix of Japanese Dengaku and Sarugaku (which is a mix between a style of dance and mime). (Noh and Kyogen) Noh is fundamentally a symbolic theatre that focuses on the representation and appreciation of ritual traditions and the appreciation of culture. A tradtitional romantic play in Noh theater is Hanjo (Lady Han). The story of Hanjo is about a yujo named Hanago that works in an inn. A man named Yoshida no Shosho came into the inn for the night on his journey east. Hanago and Yoshida no Shosho fell in love and exchanged fans before he leaves for his journey. After Shosho is gone Hanago becomes nicknamed Hanjo becuase of her deranged and obsessive love for Shosho with the only memories of him being his fan. In this love story, the fans are a representation of the giving of their hearts to one another (connecting to the plot of which this story was derived from); in which the only memory that the women has of her lost lover is the fan. Throughout the play Hanjo constantly has Shoshos fan in her posession and the more she waves the fan in the play, the more deranged she becomes thoughout the play. (Keene) One of the main aspects of Noh theater is the use of masks and to a Noh actor, the mask gives the actor behind the mask the responsibilty to be the living embodiment of the qualities he is called upon to represent. Toki) The masks in No theater that are commonly usedare the masks that were created between the fourteenth century and the seventeenth century and are prefered to be used in a performance rather than modern mask for the modern mask lacking in origionality compared to the classic. (Toki) In Noh theater, generally the Shite (main actor/ protagonist) actor is the only actor masked in the play, but in certain instances the Shitez-zure (assistant of the Shite) will also wear a mask but only when representing a female character. Toki) Even though the Shite is the only actor to be wearing a mask, the Shite will not wear a mask when representing a character in a earthly or a realistic piece of work and theatrical make-up is rerely and often not used during Noh performances. (Toki) The most common masks that are used are masks that represent female characters. The female mask are used to represent women of all ages and symbolize at times the beauty of the women or the ghost/ spirits of dead women. Toki) Different masks are used to represent the three main type of women, which are catagorized by age. (Toki) Young women are represented by ko-omote, magojiro, and waka-onna; the middle-Aged women are represented by Shakumi, Fukai, and Zoh; and finally the Old women are represented by uba and rojo. (Toki) Yet on occasion the Hannya mask is used in order to represent the vengeful women and conveys negative expressions and attitude. (Toki) When it comes to the costume design for Noh performances there are four different catagorities that the costumes can be organized into: costumes that are worn as undergarments, those worn over the under garments, costumes resembling skirts, and costumes that divide the actors upper section and the lower section of the body. (Toki) A Shite costume with five layers and outer garment of brocade creates an imposing figure on stage that can be even more imposing when a red or white wig is added. (Toki) A very typical gown style worn by women is the Karaori, which is woven with threads of gold, silver and other colors. Toki) Like most costumes in Noh theater, the use of color is major in determining the characters in the play. (Toki) Using red in the color scheme of any of the costume is best fit for a young character. (Toki) The most common costume for woman characters is the kinagashi (worn flowing), as well as the most common way of wearing kimono. (Toki) The outer robe over the under robe hanging from the shoulds to the ground and tied at the waist. (Toki) Another costume in Noh theater is the nuihaku (embroidery, foil) that can be used for both male and female characters. Komparu) A short-sleeved robed with a gold-foil or a silver- foil woven into the costume and embroidery, taking on the style of the satin-weave base. (Komparu) This costume is worn in the style of the koshimaki and includes the aslpects of being draped down from the waist, also resembling the nugi-sage. (Komparu) The nugi-sage (removed and draped) is a costume that will often symbolize a women that is mad. The right sleeve of the outer robe is removed and draped down the back, representing the decaying mind state of the women that is becoming mentally unfit. Komparu) Karaori (Chinese Weave), even though being influenced by the woven style of Chinese clothing is a good representation of Japanese Noh costumes. (Komparu) The robes can be manipulated in order to classify the different characters. It could either include the traditional color red in order to represent the young women characters or can be used without red in order to symbolise the middle-aged and older characters. In order to create the representation of a womens skin, resort to the surihaku (foil applique). Komparu) Using the same style of the short-sleeved nuihaku with the gold-foil or silver-foil being woven into the costume with red indicates that the character is a woman. (Komparu) Another critical representation of women characters are the styles of katsura (wigs) supported by the katsura obi (wig bands). (Komparu) The narrow bands are long strands that are tied around the outside of the wig and are left hanging down the actors back. (Komparu) The bands still include the aspects of the gold-foil or silver-foil with the choice of red or not. The koshi obi (hip bands) can be used for both male and female characters. (Komparu) This resembles the mizu-goromo or is used with nuihaku in the style of koshimaki (draped from the waist). (Komparu) This costume is wrapped around the hips over a three quarter length. The tradtional styles of wigs that are used to indicate women character are the katsura, which is generally tied back or can be lengenthed to be the naga-katsura- (long wig) by attaching the long hair to a small square cloth and tied onto the actors head then rearranged for the performances. Other styles include the kasshiki-katsura (the religious wig), the midare-bin (untidy or disordered wig), and the uba-katsura (old womans wig). (Komparu) For the costume design for Hanjo there are certain aspects from each of the traditional costumes that could come together to create a beautiful costume along with conveying ,the character, Hanjo going mad without her lover, Shosho. The most fitting costume style would be the mugi-sage (removed and draped), which is generally known for symbolizing the concept of a mad woman with the disordanized and rugged look of the right sleeve of the outer robe slipped of and left to hang down the back of the character. The colors of the robe would include the same aspects of the nuihaku and the surihaku with the silver-foil woven into the fabric and the traditional red to indicate that the character is a young woman. The headress of Hanjo would include the idare-bin (disheveled tresses) style of wig in order to help convey the slow affect of Hanjo becoming mad without her lover; and the traditional katsura obi (wig band) with a red trim will support the headress itself and the concept of a female character. For props, Hanjo will hold bamboo grass in her hand which symbolizes a mad women. Along with the bamboo grass, Hanjo will hold a fan that will be a representation of Shoshos fan that she recieved and will be used to be waved more rapidly to symbolize Hanjos madness.

King Lear - Theme of Blindness Essay -- essays research papers

King Lear - Theme of Blindness In Shakespearean terms, blinds means a whole different thing. Blindness can normally be defined as the inability of the eye to see, but according to Shakespeare, blindness is not a physical quality, but a mental flaw some people possess. Shakespeare’s most dominant theme in his play King Lear is that of blindness. King Lear, Gloucester, and Albany are three prime examples Shakespeare incorporates this theme into. Each of these character’s blindness was the primary cause of the bad decisions they made; decisions which all of them would eventually come to regret. The blindest bat of all was undoubtedly King Lear. Because of Lear’s high position in society, he was supposed to be able to distinguish the good from the bad; unfortunately, his lack of sight prevented him to do so. Lear’s first act of blindness came at the beginning of the play. First, he was easily deceived by his two eldest daughters’ lies, then, he was unable to see the reality of Cordel ia’s true love for him, and as a result, banished her from his kingdom with the following words: â€Å"..................................for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of her again. Therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benison.† (Act I, Sc I, Ln 265-267) Lear’s blindness also caused him to banish one of his loyal followers, Kent. Kent was able to see Cordelia’s true love for her father, and tried to protect her from her blind father’s irrationality. After Kent wa...

Diy Market in China

| Sector-Specific Considerations for EU Businesses considering entering the DIY Market in China. | | | | As Deng Xiaoping once said â€Å"Cross the river by feeling the stones†. This saying is very relevant for the DIY market in China because you are threading down a road into the very unknown.In 2004 the Chinese DIY and home improvement market reached an all-time high of RMB 195 Billion and has been depleting ever since. DIY stores are constantly losing popularity within the market . The market demand currently is for â€Å"soft decoration†, with the rural family’s moving to the fast growing cities to attain employment, there is a demand for moveable decoration in case they have to re-locate again.The younger generation are also leading the market for multifunctional, low cost furniture, such as DIY kitchens and bathrooms; this is due to the culture of the Chinese families with the kitchen and bathroom being the most personal area in their homes. (Allience, 2007 ) A major competitor and threat to the DIY businesses already established in China are the growing number of smaller contractors, as their knowledge of DIY is improving with the market trends.A high percentage of new homes being bought are being left unfinished and require a major investment in home improvement, this is where they just decide to hire a smaller contractor to do the time consuming work instead of doing it themselves thus the companies are losing out on the profit, but with China’s property prices rising it is entirely possible that the Chinese consumer will simply be pushed in the direction of DIY as a cheaper option. But what will happen when Chinas sees a fall in construction and property? Will the DIY companies suffer? This can be construed as a major economic threat to new European companies entering into China. Allience, 2007) Who are the major competitors? There is not one but many already established competitors within the Chinese DIY market. B&Q is the major contender with it being the largest Western DIY retailer in the country. B&Q opened its first store in China in 1999 and has continued to establish strong brand awareness. As The Guardian reported, the local culture did not fit with the DIY practices that B&Q already had and therefore B&Q had to adapt their once very successful European format to a Chinese one, hence making it a CIY (create it yourself) strategy. Tran, 2007) Another competitor for an EU DIY business to go up against is a well-established Chinese DIY company called Orient Homes. Orient Homes was founded in 1999 in Beijing. It receives its stock from local manufacturers consequently lowering the cost of the goods for consumer, thus making it a very large threat not just economically but because it is so well established within its home market.It has come to my attention in according to the China National Interior Decoration Association there is an estimate of more than 40,000 registered companies engaged in home improvement in China alone. (Unknown, 2009) The market is so densely populated that an EU company trying to enter the market is going to have some major struggle. Joint Venture or Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE)? Many companies entering china have to ask themselves this very difficult question, it’s a difficult decision to make as there are many advantages and disadvantages to both.Entering into a WFOE I believe is a lot harder than a Joint Venture, because with no Chinese partner they are left to approach their chosen market alone. It’s also difficult for the company to â€Å"create a market for their chosen products, especially when there’re already local competitors. Sometimes even with a local sales and marketing team it can take years to have a name on the Chinese Market† (Bergonovo, 2011) . The culture of the market can be very diverse and for a WFOE it can be difficult to understand alone.There are advantages as well as disadvantages, †Å"unlike in JVs where there're different views because the different partners and the negotiations and compromises are the only key to keep the business alive. Especially for small-medium business it is much better to have a WFOE, in order to avoid getting stuck in cultural differences with a local partner. So if you're a small business maybe with sole ownership in your mother company that has a clear strategy for the Chinese market and can afford long term investment WFOE is the right choice. † (Bergonovo, 2011) Joint Ventures an be very successful in some instances, because you will have the advantage of having a culturally and linguistically adapt partner, but â€Å"it’s crucial for foreign investors to understand the purposes of the joint venture and weather their Chinese Partner is capable of fulfilling them. The popular Chinese idiom â€Å"same bed, different dreams† has become the failed joint ventures mantra† (Ireland, 2012) Trust is the major issu e in this venture. My considerations for a DIY company would be a Joint Venture because the company will have a stronger understanding of the market and I believe this is crucial for a successful move to the Chinese market.Are there barriers for new entrants? â€Å"The key difference between domestic marketing and marketing on an international scale is the multi-dimensionality and complexity of the many foreign country markets a company may operate in. An international manager needs a knowledge and awareness of these complexities and their implications they have for† (Doole & Lowe, 2001, p. 9)the company and the market they are entering. I will use the SLEPT (Social, Legal, Economical, Political and Technological) method to determine the various trends and environment for a European DIY company attempting to enter the Chinese DIY market.Social, Cultural problems and differences can really take a toll on a new immature company entering a country where religion and material cul ture play a major role. The language would have the most significant role and impact to play on the way the products and services many be seen to the new consumers. Coca Cola had huge problems when they first entered the Chinese Market, their brand name translated to â€Å"kooke koula† which in turn translated to â€Å"A thirsty mouthful of candle wax†. Now with their new translation it means â€Å"joyful tastes and happiness†, mistakes must be made by one major company for another to learn from their mistakes. Over the next 20 years more people will migrate to China's cities for higher-paying jobs. These working consumers, once the country's poorest, will steadily climb the income ladder, creating a new and massive middle class. † (Farrell, Ulrich A. , & Stephenson, 2006) This society has struggled to come to terms with the phrase â€Å"do it yourself† because they are not educated in the home renovation area. It also seems to be giving off the per ception that you are peasant like if you do it yourself. It’s all about social status right now n China, if you are seen doing manual labour that you can subsequently hire someone to do then you are seen as a scrooge. â€Å"In recent years China has become the world’s number one country in terms of attracting foreign investments. As the second-fastest growing economy of the world it attracted USD 74. 6 billion of foreign direct investment in 2007. With a current position as the world’s fourth-largest economy (in nominal GDP), and an average annual growth of more than 8% for the last 30 years, only very few other countries in the world can match the business opportunities present in China today. (Unknown, General Considerations before Entering the Chinese Market) In order for an EU DIY company to succeed in the market they need to be aware of what direction the specific market they want to enter is developing economically in order to make a well-rounded assessme nt on whether it would be financially viable to enter and compete with firms already established in the market such as B&Q and Home Depot. (Doole & Lowe, 2001) The company may also face some long term challenges with the rapid development it could put a strain on resources such as the infrastructure and the migration rates within the country.There are also some very appealing political reforms that have taken place in China that any international company would be pleased about. The reform and opening up policy has been a major boost to the Chinese economy and political system. These reforms policies were put in place between 1979 and 1984 and it was aimed at improving Chinese relations with neighbouring countries. Despite the success of this open door policy many companies have been faced with difficult obstacles in relation to ownership rights and intellectual property.It was released this year that the CCP would decrease taxes for foreign companies entering China by 50% as they be lieved it would attracted more foreign investment in China. (Davies, 2012) â€Å"â€Å"The bigger picture is that because of the economic situation globally over the past couple of years, China sees the need to create a friendlier environment for foreign investors,† said Khoon Ming Ho of KPMG China. † (Davies, 2012) This is a major opportunity for EU based companies to enter the market at reduced tax rates. â€Å"Legal systems vary both in content and interpretation.A company is not just bound by the laws of its home country but also by those of its host country† (Doole & Lowe, 2001) In the west business is based on careful negotiation in contracts and agreements, they may be enforced by a court of law, however in China business is based on personal relationships, they call Guanxi in China. Two companies have to have guanxi before they can cooperate together, the specifics of a contract me be discussed after they have agreed in principle and this could cause has sle for a European DIY company who base their laws on the west.Technology is currently playing a major role in Chinese society and â€Å"is a major driving force both in international marketing and the move towards the global marketplace† (Doole & Lowe, 2001) China has the largest mobile phone and internet users with 420 million people using such services daily (Ireland, 2012), leaving the market place wide open for a new EU company to market their products via smartphones and internet. However there are some censorship issues in China at the moment, it is implemented by the Communist Party of China and goes for the whole mainland.Censorship is put into place to uphold and preserve the law of the Communist Party of China; it helps to stop unapproved  reformist,  separatist, â€Å"counter-revolutionary†, or religious ideas. It also stops the citizens of China educating themselves on the past, present and future let-downs of the Party. Marketing Mix Product With many new foreign products entering the Chinese market the consumers are becoming overwhelmed by the abundance and are relying on the image that the company has made in its producing country. â€Å"Each region in China has differences in economic growth, living standards and education.For foreign products, there are sharp differences between rural and urban attitudes. Typical Chinese consumers do not want to be amongst the first to try a new product. They are reluctant to be pioneers, especially for an expensive, unrecognised (in terms of brand), foreign product. † (Doole & Lowe, 2001) My considerations for an EU DIY company would be not to take your company’s products for granted, just because they have been very successful in the West does not mean they will be equally successful in the East.They must think of China as they would think of Europe, with its many different regions and its many different cultures it must adapt to what are culturally acceptable. They are entir ely interested in products that are going to suit their needs, as I spoke of before, when new apartments are bought they are just a shell and need a lot of investment and renovation, if a company could access the Chinese people’s needs in this regard they might have a large opportunity. Price â€Å"The  pricing  of  a  product  or  service  is  not  an  easy  decision  for  any  company.There  are  many issues  that  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  especially  when  a  multinational  company  is entering  a  new  international  market  such  as  China. † (Waller, 2012) The price must cover the manufacturing and distribution costs and in turn must not be too low as the company could sustain long term losses. There are many approaches that a company can take to decide on what marketing strategy to consider. For example; â€Å"Skimming: This is where the product is introduced in the market at a high price, and then lowered over time. (Waller, 2012) Apple Inc. is a company that is partial to this method as they believe that people are willing to pay extra to have the newest technology on the market. â€Å"Prestige: A company will use prestige, or premium pricing as a strategy where companies with luxury products or exclusive brand image/reputation will price the product at the high end of the price range. Customers knowing that they are buying high quality will expect to pay the higher price. † (Waller, 2012) Companies that use this such method are Louis Vuitton and Rolex.My sector specific considerations for an EU DIY company’s pricing strategy is to introduce new products at a lower price to suit the Chinese market, leaving them with a competitive advantage over the companies that are already established. Place â€Å"Rapidly improving infrastructure, high-tech facilities and an increasingly well trained workforce mean there is greater choice than ever befor e for investors seeking to expand, set up new regional headquarters or relocate key functions to new locations within China. (KPMG, 2012) The future of the company’s success can rely on the choice of location that you choose. â€Å"There is a growing number of young professionals with significant disposable income on the major coastal cities who aspire to higher standards of living and increased wages and thus are more likely to spend credit for mid to high range consumer products† (Ireland, 2012) With profit and manufacturing opportunities in major coastal cities this could lead to the start of a very successful DIY company.Promotion Marketing plays a significant part in any company’s success of their brands especially in the Chinese market. They must establish their target market for example what Tier/Class, Age, and Income the company will market to and then once they have found their target market they must evaluate their market potential. A successful marke ting campaign will recognise the various needs and wants of their target market; in China for example it varies from region to age to culture values.As I previously mentioned China's internet usage is the highest in the world, by advertising online you could reach and provide a huge segment of your target market with the brand information they need. Finally, based on my above predictions and opinions I have produced this SWOT analysis for a DIY company entering into the Chinese market. Strengths: * well established EU presence * Large Population and consumer base * wide variety of DIY products * High quality services * Cheaper than competitorsWeakness * Must incorporate Chinese culture * Less advertising and brand awareness than competitors * Little brand loyalty in China * Lack of innovation in product development for China * Lack of market information Opportunities * Property growth * Unfurnished houses * Income levels rapidly increasing * Wide internet usage * New middle class im pressionable/available * Cheaper manufacturing costs. Threats * Already some well established companies * Local cultures and values are unknown

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