Unspeakable Acts: The Avant-garde Theatre of Terayama Shuji And Postwar Japan

Book Description

Iconoclast, outlaw, genius, terrorist, pornographer: Terayama Shûji (1935-1983) has been labeled all of these and more. One of postwar Japan's most gifted and controversial playwrights/directors, Terayama has been compared to such artists as Robert Wilson and John Cage. During his lifetime his work incited scandal, outrage, even violence. Since his death more than twenty years ago, he has been transformed into a cult hero in Japan; members of the international theater continue to adore and damn him. Despite this notoriety, Unspeakable Acts is the first book in any language to analyze the theater of Terayama in depth.

Unspeakable Acts interrogates postwar Japanese culture and theater through the creative work of this unique yet emblematic artist. By situating Terayama in his historical milieu and by using tools derived from Japanese and Western theories of psychoanalysis, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, and aesthetics, Carol Fisher Sorgenfrei has woven a sophisticated and provocative study. Among the key themes she explores are the ruins of personal and national identity in the wake of Hiroshima, the Occupation, and the anti-American demonstrations of the 1960s; the paradoxical links between Japanese nostalgia, performance, and postmodernity; the theory of Japan as a "mother-centered culture" that nurtures powerful bonds of love-in-hate toward mothers and other females; and the artistic legacies and practices that bind Terayama to—and sever him from—both the international avant-garde and the popular Japanese rural traditions of his youth.

While driven to create art in many genres, Terayama nurtured above all his roles as a trickster and outsider, encouraging disaffected youths to rebel against social convention. His theatrical troupe, Tenjô Sajiki, was a haven for talented pop artists, transvestites, dwarves, circus performers, and gamblers. His directorial style was so idiosyncratic that it was generally believed that his works could not be remounted after his death. However, because the provocative content of his plays continues to resonate for many Japanese today, internationally renowned directors such as Ninagawa Yukio have been prompted to produce new versions both in Japan and abroad. Translations of three plays and copious excerpts from Terayama's most important book of dramatic theory comprise the second half of this eye-opening volume.

Unspeakable Acts will be essential reading for anyone interested in the paradoxical nature of postwar Japanese theater and culture and the cross-cultural influences in international avant-garde performance.

Customer Reviews:

A good introduction.......2006-01-07

This book's volume is a little misleading. You look at it and you think you're in the presence of the definite english treatise on the life and work of Terayama Shuji, but later you realize that you only get a mere 170 pages worth of it, the rest of the 335-page book consisting of a few select translations of his work. The translations themselves are a wonderful thing to have, but the first part of the book is a little unsatisfying, that is, it's a good introduction but I felt like some points deserved to be expanded. Furthermore, the author's words denote an infatuation with Terayama Shuji's work and persona and yet they're a little too academic and dispassionate (which would've made for a more interesting reading experience, but this is only a personal preference and it's completely understandable). However, the book is an easy read, informative enough and well researched. It also contains a few photographic reproductions which help the reader invision the often surreal and visually imaginative world conceived by Terayama. "Unspeakable acts" pretty much accomplishes what it sets out to do, but at the same time it falls a little short of the expectations (the author herself mentions, at one point, the limitations of the book's scope). Perhaps a second volume would be a welcome addition.

Book Description

Philip Glass, composer of symphonies, operas (Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten, Orphée), film scores (Kundun, Mishima, Koyaanisqatsi), songs, and music for dance is a musician who determined early on that he wanted to compose independently, apart from institutions. That decision has made him a controversial figure among academic musicians, in spite of his rigorous training at Juilliard, and with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Richard Kostelanetz has gathered a lively and varied collection of writings about Philip Glass's work, along with several interviews and a conversation between Glass and sculptor Richard Serra. The chronology of the works and discography have been updated for the paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

A good portrait of Glass' works and life.......2006-07-23

A book on Glass' avant-garde minimalist compositional style surprised me as he nears his 70th birthday as a significant 20th century composer. Discovering Glass (b.1937) with "The Photographer (83)" CD some 15 years ago, Glass' self-titled website with a biography section does not do justice, especially during his formative years. Biographies show how one's developmental years translate into accomplishments as an adult and parent.

The book is divided into 4 parts, Part I Metamorphosis, Part II Instrumental Music, Part III Music for Theatre and Film, and Part IV Endgame. The book is a compendium of published articles. Part III is the largest section consuming about 1/2 the book, with most articles authored in the mid 80s to early 90s. In this section is a 4 pg article by Robert C Morgan (famed art critic) on "The Photographer," 84 revised 96. There are about 30 articles in the book with an average length of 10 pages. Three of the articles have musical score (analysis by Wes York, "Akhnaten"), a diagram (String Quartet No1), and lyrics (Hydrogen Jukebox) to describe Glass' creative process.

Part IV Endgame has a 1 pg bibliography, 11 pg listing of works by year for 3 decades, 7 pg discography, and 7 pg index. The book's printed ISBN is not current and the book is not listed on the publisher's website. The dust jacket has been rebadged ISBN 0-8256-7246-5, as the publisher's trade books was divested to musicsales dot com, London.

My favorite part of this book is a 25-page interview by Ms Ev Grimes, PhD about Glass' musical education in Section I, p12-36, which has been further edited by the composer and the author. Ev Grimes is a nationally acclaimed producer of documentaries on musicians and cultural topics and she was a NPR radio commentator back in the 70s. The interview / documentary was commissioned by the Yale School of Music (Oral History American Music project). I found Glass's candid comments about his family, early flute teacher, inner city Baltimore high school, U Chicago and NYC's Juilliard quite interesting (covering 1940s-50s). The author claims that this is probably the most comprehensive interview of Glass growing up that exists and is a book exclusive.

In p15-31, Philip, middle son of a Lithuanian immigrant Jew and skilled mechanic, dropped out of a southern Baltimore, Maryland high school, challenged by examination entrance requirements into U of Chicago at age 15 (1952-6) majoring in math and philosophy earned an AB. In the south Chicago neighborhood, extemporaneous Jazz music clubs exposed him to non-classical music. Applying to Juilliard at 19, he expanded his compositional skills. A well-rounded individual, he worked during summers as a crane operator for Bethlehem Steel near Baltimore to help pay tuition. Juilliard's tiny composition department at the time in 1957-62, was focused on experimental modern American music such as Copeland and Hindemith. So Glass got a lot of individual freedom to compose and expressed his talent with 75 pieces. As the composer, he did not have to play them. It was encouraged to recruit fellow students for its performance, including Steve Reich also a minimalist, who he met in Juilliard's friendly cafeteria.

Juilliard's environment emphasized performance, as opposed to getting a teaching credential, a musical trade school if you will. This naturally led to music score for NYC film projects. Writing music on staff became as natural as eating with a fork. Earning a MA in 1962 (4 years) at 25 years of age, he co-won the BMI Award for Young Composers.

After graduation Glass, under a Ford foundation grant, went to high schools as a composer-in-residence, assigned to Pittsburgh. For two years, starting in 1961, he trained up-and-coming students imitating Julliard's performance methodology. He saved his stipend to further his musical career in Europe and beyond.

Although skilled in classical composition, he went to Paris to study under the renown Ms Nadia Boulanger as a Fulbright scholar during 1963-5. Boulanger made him study counterpoint and harmony by analyzing Bach (WTC), Mozart and Beethoven to the nth degree often by voice. By the time he completed his "post-doc," Glass was 28 and sick of the classical school.

As described in a Tricycle article p316-27, Glass' initiation to his signature minimalistic style occurred while in Paris receiving an assignment to translate Indian music scored in an Asian numbered system to a Western musical score for the sitar legend Ravi Shankar in the film, "Chappaqua." This exposed him to Eastern music with different keys, melodies and rhythms. Essentially smitten, Glass and his wife hitchhiked across Egypt and the Middle East to India spending a year sabbatical learning world music and a religious conversion to Buddhism and vegetarianism [see Yahoo for this bio extension]. He returned to NYC in 1967 at 30 and a started reducing a minimalistic style to practice, struggled initially two-timing as a cabbie, plumber, day laborer to make ends meet and finally at 40, as they say in Hollywood, the rest is history.

The book has essays on Glass's most famous initial work, "Einstein on the Beach" a 4+-hour opera (76), third opera on Egyptian pharaoh mythology, "Akahathen" (84), and a tribute to Mohandas Gandhi efforts on civil rights in the "Satyagraha" (80), second opera.

The article does not cover Glass' adult personal life (see Wikipedia and NNDB) which include 4 marriages, most significant with his first wife of 15 years to JoAnne Akalaitis, theater director of Mabou Mines Theatre which they cofounded, m. 1965, div. 1980, son Zachary (b 1969) who followed him in music contributing to a few productions, but not with distinction as a songwriter, and daughter Juliet (PhD Art History John Hopkins, b 1971). It appears that his son, now 36, was not enamored by excellence probably due to his workaholic parent's neglect. Glass is currently married to trophy wife Holly Critchlow (restaurant manager, m. 2001), and lives in East Village (Bowery), NYC and a primitive cabin in a Nova Scotia village in Canada.

Ehhhh, it was okay...........2001-09-07

That's about it - this is an okay collection of okay essays. Some are quite good, most are quite average, a few are not so good at all. The layout is also not very helpful - they are not chronologically arranged, but instead are put in some other, non-linear fashion. I am a *huge* fan of Glass, and am generally excited by anything about him - even just seeing his name printed somewhere or hearing his music on a commercial - but I was only whelmed by this book, and wouldn't necessarily recommend it to people. Seems as though the compiler could have found much better articles to include - surely in the years covered there were much more vibrant and intelligent writers writing about Glass.

If you are a diehard fan, or if you need some research material collected in one spot, go for this book. Otherwise, well, take your chances.

Hoscotch in additive land.......1999-01-28

Although this sort of collection is sorely needed, the format is not well thought through. Had a chronological approach been taken when assembling the various essays, an easier read could be had by all.

Writings on Glass. Essays, Interviews, Criticism. Edited and introduced by Richard Kostelanetz; assistant editor Robert Flemming.

Average customer rating:

Writings on Glass. Essays, Interviews, Criticism. Edited and introduced by Richard Kostelanetz; assistant editor Robert Flemming.
PHILIP). KOSTELANETZ, RICHARD, editor. (GLASS
Manufacturer: New York:Schirmer Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UB8V50

Average customer rating:

Writings on Glass: Essays, Interviews, Criticism
Richard (edited by) Kostelanetz
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NV7L0S

Average customer rating:

Writings on Glass: Essays, Interviews, Criticism
Richard, ed. Kostelanetz
Manufacturer: SCHIRMER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GRBJCU

Average customer rating:

Writings on Glass: Essays, Interviews, Criticism
Edt Richard Kostelantez
Manufacturer: SIMON AND SCHUSTER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLJOZM

Average customer rating:

Great Strategy Guide

The last review is wrong...

Good for the maps, I guess...

Not to shabby by any means

Great Game - Great Guide!

Vagrant Story Official Strategy Guide (Official Guide)
Dan Birlew
Manufacturer: BRADY GAMES
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Strategy Guides | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Vagrant Story

Parasite Eve : Official Strategy Guide

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Front Mission 3 Official Strategy Guide (Official Guide)

Final Fantasy Chronicles Official Strategy Guide

ASIN: 1566869714

Book Description

BradyGAMES strategy guide has maps for every mission and tips and strategies for survivingbattles. A bestiary, weapons list, and characterdescriptions are included. Detailed walkthrough revealing secret areas and solutions to puzzles.

Customer Reviews:

Great Strategy Guide.......2002-02-05

I play videogames for ten years now, and I have approximately 60 strategy guides (Nintendo, Prima, Versus Books, Bradygames) for various games. When it comes to strategy guides I'm very demanding about clarity of the text and organisation of different sections, the quality of maps(!), listing of items etc.

This guide deserves 5 stars. The maps are clearly drawn, very detailed, include texts for the most important steps to clear a mission (complemented by the text, of course), and clearly indicate the most important locations (chests, save points, and -especially important - your STARTing point which some guides completely miss). The sections about items and enemies are also very clear and complete, and so is the text of the walkthrough (with reference points to the maps). Overall, this guide has one of the best maps I've seen in a strategy guide which are informative, clear, and a great orientation throughout the game(no fancy pantsy 3D-maps which lack listing of items, are confusing and not a big help). The guide is worth every cent.

The last review is wrong..........2000-09-05

I do agree that this book is missing a few things, namely a complete armor and weapons list. Also, the publisher put the weapons combinations tables at their website instead of in the book, which Brady has a bad habit of doing. But the last review, and several others, point out things about the guide that just aren't true.

For instance, armor DOES affect the way potions and spells affect your character. It's clearly stated in the game instruction booklet and in the in-game Quick Manual (a built-in reference guide for playing the game.) So the author is not wrong in stating this. I do agree that it's more affected by the weapon's intelligence, however. Also, there is a very complete table of Break Arts, Chain Attacks and Defense Abilities, so I don't know why some of these reviews harp on that. One review stated that the best weapon in the game is not in the guide. That's not true, it's detailed in the Clear Game section on p.165 at the bottom. Only it's called the Excaliber in the american version. I also did not find that there was any problem with the Instill ability's description or use by the author. He says when to use it when appropriate. Mostly he states to use Raging Ache, and his final boss tactic works supremely well. I would advise other reviewers to actually read the guide and play the full game before passing any judgements.

I can see that tremendous efforts were made on the part of the author to render a very complete guide. While there are a few non-essential elements missing, the guide does give you solid strategies for beating the game in style. I don't agree that there are plot spoilers in the book, it seems that the author went out of his way not to discuss the story at all. When a cutscene happened, I wasn't expecting it because the author hadn't indicated that it would occur (like so many other authors tell you about every single cutscene), and I appreciated it very much. I would say it is worth buying this if you are new to RPGs. But for those who want every single element of the game represented, there are more complete strategy guides available for free online.

Good for the maps, I guess..........2000-08-20

This game book has a LOT of errors. Examples: saying the armor you wear effects the potions you drink (nonsense). There is a room that you are told you MUST have a spear weapon in order to move a block and proceed. Not only does the spear not work on the block, but you only need jump onto the ledge next to the block to get around it...

There are three bosses you are told you should use the Instill chain command which will remove 10% of the bosses hit point if it works. Huh? That doesn't work, not even vaguely (no suprise, thats not the description of Instill, or any other chain command.)

the real way to beat these bosses: For Kali and Asura, use your best Human weapon on the arm that is weak (thats the only trick: one arm will be easy to hurt, the rest will be virtually indestructable).

For the final boss, let him zap you once with a spell, then pound on him with Raging Ache. He'll go down quick.

Not to shabby by any means.......2000-07-23

The Vagrant Story guide is one of the best strategy guide efforts I've seen in a long time. Virtually every facet of the game is covered in tremendous detail. It starts off with a HUGE introductory section, and quickly dispels the inevitable confusion gained from reading through the instruction booklet in regards to the characters, game controls, battle engine, and inventory management. No mode of the game is left uncovered, and each is given an appropriate amount of attention and detail. The weapons, spells, abilities, and items sections are not just comprised of mere lists; pages are taken to describe exactly what each thing does, as well as how to most effectively manage your quantities of each given the limited carrying capacity available in the game.

The game walkthrough is handled with the same degree of detail. Each main area starts off with a very thorough map, which shows how each room connects to the other areas, as well as the booty and bosses contained within them. Given the VS is a game that requires a decent amount of backtracking, it is a pleasure to note that these maps are repeated throughout the guide as older areas are revisited in the walkthrough; this saves the gamer the time and effort of flipping back through 20 or so pages to find out the best way to navigate to the next destination. The room descriptions are wonderful, as they point out what nasties and obstacles are found in each and how to get around each one. Accompanying screenshots are large and clear.

The game's numerous bosses each require very different strategies, and this is just another area where this guide shines. Don't expect merely a sentence or two that give you the boss' name and a list of its abilities; you get that, plus numerous (and thoroughly tested) strategies to bring each one down based on your playing style. You'll be told what types of weapons and spells work the best, as well as how to manage your RISK factor so it works to your advantage rather than a disadvantage. Also worth mentioning is the extensiveness to which particular character abilities are most suitable to dealing with each foe-quite useful.

The guide doesn't leave you hanging after the final boss either. The "extra" areas of the game that are only available for play after completing the mission once are presented, in no less detail than the rest of the book, in the final section

There were only a few noticeable weaknesses to be found. Solutions are abound to all of the game's block puzzles, but the screenshot-to-screenshot approach the author took did not seem the most appropriate method. These sections of the walkthrough require multiple re-reads before you can understand the perspective they were written from. And the occasional "wrong direction" instructions may leave some gamers frustrated if they're not able to pick up on the solution after a few steps. Many of the high-end weapons and other equipment were noticeably absent from the tables in the intro section. There was also the occasional area name left off of the maps, and some sections of the walkthrough began without telling the player how they got from the last location to the current one. Plot spoilers are also present in some parts, so one must be careful not to look too far ahead. But because these are exceptions rather than consistencies, it's not enough to bring the book down to a mediocre rating.

Overall, this is a fantastic guide for a fantastic game. Each page is packed with game-related information only, and no wasted space is to be found. If you're in the market for VS literature, you're bound to find something in this book to give you the edge.

Great Game - Great Guide!.......2000-06-20

Vagrant Story is one of the best games in gaming history as of today and this guide does nothing else but prove that point! It has everything you need to complete the game and view the entire world map! True, it does have a few bad points, but it still is very good. ............

Book Description

You don't need an office. Start-up costs are low. And you don't need any costly special equipment. All you need is this book and a desire to succeed.

Customer Reviews:

Good but outdated.......2007-09-12

I enjoyed this book and its simplicity, however, found it was a little out of date.

Good Product.......2007-05-12

Very informative. It was a quick read, and gave lots of ideas for places to go for more information. Some of the links listed in the book are out of date, but considering how fast information changes on the web, I'm not surprised. A much better value than many of the other consultant books out there, and an excellent starting point for anyone considering this field.

OK for a how to book.......2007-03-09

OK for a how to book. It does not give real world experience.

Real in depth...........2007-02-07

The book goes in great detail of every aspect( financial work,alliances with certain business, all the little odds and ends for your business ) of starting the business, really really informative if you are serious of starting your shop or service.

Superior Content in this Book. A 5 Star Winner!.......2006-11-05

This book was exceptional and full of practical and useful knowledge. I obtained my wedding consultant certificate and found this book invaluable and packed with information on how to realistically start my future business. The principles were well thought out and an excellent resource. Five stars. Buy it! Elaine Bales Anchorage, Alaska

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