| Papers [1-9] of 9 | Search results on "GEISHA": |
|
|
Cultural Ethnography of the Japanese Geisha, 2007.
This paper describes the history, training and life of the Japanese Geisha.
3,003 words (approx. 12.0 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 142.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the ethnography of the Japanese Geisha. Additionally, it highlights many subtopics of the Geisha culture such as history and training, customers and skills, fashion, and modern-day and western influences. The paper includes an annotated bibliography with descriptions of sources used.
History of the Geisha Culture
Becoming a Geisha
Geisha Talents and Those Who Enjoy Them
Geisha Appearance
Modern-Day Geisha and Western Influence
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Geisha hair, Geisha makeup, Geisha grace: Geisha is a pleasing profession envied by women and adored by men. She is a living work of art; a doll adorned in satins and silks. Her entrance anywhere has movie star status and everyone wishes to be a part of her world: the flower and willow world. The Geisha profession is a time-honored tradition that has gradually changed into its own intricate culture. In this essay, I will explore the various complexities and mysteries of the Geisha culture by addressing the following areas: Geisha history, training, talents and customers, traditional dress, and Geisha in the modern world. I will clarify any misconceptions one may have about this beautiful and mysterious culture."
| |
|
Japanese Geisha: A Disappearing Culture, 2007.
A look at the history and culture of Japanese Geisha, with reference to the book and movie "Memoirs of a Geisha".
1,904 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 5 sources, MLA, AU$ 97.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses how Geishas are still active in Japanese society today and how they have been a part of Japan's culture since ancient times. It contends that the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" does not come close to adequately representing the life of a geisha-an important and guarded piece of Japanese culture and history. In contrast, it looks at how Arthur Golden's novel, by the same title, seems to much more adequately provide an insiders look into this fascinating world.
From the Paper
"Many of the geisha community's top clients were military leaders and the leaders of huge companies and factories with homes in Japan. Many of these clients were killed in the war. Those who survived often lost everything they had after losing entire factories and companies to bombs and air raids. Not only did the geishas lose clients--many practicing geishas were lost as well. Thousands of lives were taken from Japan in World War II. Unfortunately, social status did not save anyone from the attacks. "
| |
|
A Geisha Art Display, 2008.
This paper describes an art exhibit that will show the importance of Geisha to the Japanese culture.
822 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 47.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper explains the importance of Geisha to the Japanese culture. The paper explains that Geisha means "a person of the arts" and the typical geisha was adept in flower arranging, calligraphy, music, dance, and the unique Japanese tea ceremony. The paper describes the art exhibit that will include the Kimono traditional clothing, Ikebana (flower arranging) and Japanese calligraphy. The paper relates that visitors to the art exhibition will leave with a clear understanding of geisha's striking contrast with the reserved nature of the regular Japanese culture. The paper includes images of the Kimono clothing, flower arranging and Japanese calligraphy.
Outline:
Geisha Art Display
The Art Pieces
Kimono
Ikebana
Calligraphy
From the Paper
"To understand the importance of Geisha to the Japanese culture as well as its significance within that culture, one must first understand Japanese culture. Within Japan the Japanese language epitomizes the culture with its emphasis on order and structure while such aspects as clothing, epitomized by the kimono which means literally "something that is worn" are widely seen within the culture as the ideal of Japanese garments (Sugimoto 43). Additionally, Japanese culture takes art forms such as painting, wood block prints, and especially calligraphy based on Chinese characters and makes of them a highly stylized, abstract art form. Yet, Japanese are, in their daily lives, quite reserved and adhere to strict social mores regarding behavior, speech, and a high regard for social order (Sugimoto 14). Thus, it can be imagined that where the typical historical Japanese woman might be reserved and less forward in not wanting to bring attention to herself geisha became a highly stylized representation of the Japanese woman. That is, without the social constraints of folkway and mores that barred traditional Japanese women from self-expression, geisha might be thought of as the unconscious expression of how many women, and men, conceived them to be."
| |
|
The Culture and Decline of the Geisha, 2000.
A look at the historical function of the Geisha and reasons for their decline in popularity.
1,730 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 5 sources, AU$ 89.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper takes a look at the role and function of the Geisha from the Edo period and the expectations of behavior and conduct of a geisha. As the numbers of geisha in Japan are declining, the paper also looks at a number of reasons to explain this decline
From the Paper
"Entertainment in Japan during the Edo period (1600-1867), especially entertainment involving women, was considered to require close supervision by the government. Prostitution was legal if properly licensed and controlled. Shimbara and Yoshiwara were fenced-in districts on the outskirts of Kyoto and Edo where prostitution was contained and regulated until 1957. Of the numerous hours men spent in these districts, relatively few were devoted to sex. Most of the time was engaged in partying; the lure of the area was the romance, elegance and excitement that could be found in the one place in the structured feudal society where money, wit and charm combined to create a sub-culture rooted in evening recreation. Besides the prostitutes, a number of other classes of female entertainers and waitresses were permitted to work in designated entertainment areas. Geishas belonged in this category, and for them, engaging in sex with customers was officially prohibited. The term geisha literally means ?artist?. "
| |
|
The "Geisha", 2006.
A look at Liza Galby's book "Geisha".
1,218 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 3 sources, APA, AU$ 67.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper takes a look at the everyday life of a Japanese Geisha, their role in society, their place, their relation to art (music, poetry, dancing), to culture and tradition, to prostitution and to Japanese wives as portrayed in the book by Liza Galby. Geishas are said to be one of the defining elements of Japanese society.
From the Paper
"Without even attempting to cover the personality of geishas and their role, a few nouns are likely to help in defining geishas, both as a concept and as persons. First of all, we may state the fact that geishas are performers. Their role is to entertain at private parties, often for exorbitant sums of money. In Kyoto, in the traditional geisha neighborhood, filled with lots of restaurants and private houses, one can often see in the streets (especially after eight or nine in the evening), geishas can be seen walking around the street in their tight, exquisite kimonos and lavishly done hairstyles, entering the restaurants where they are appointed. Dancing, singing and reciting, alongside witty and smart conversation are some of the trades that geishas are taught ever since the beginning of their lives in the geisha schools. Notoriously, one of the most famous geishas of all time, Sada Yakko, who lived in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, went on to become a remarkable actress, with tours that astounded the Western world at the beginning of the 20th century. Reputably, her conversation would stand the test of any of the potentates of those times. "
| |
|
"Memoirs of a Geisha", 2007.
An analysis of the novel, "Memoirs of a Geisha", by Arthur Golden, and a comparison between the book and the film of the book.
2,183 words (approx. 8.7 pages), 7 sources, MLA, AU$ 110.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper examines how both the film and the book rely on the exotic beauty of a hidden Japanese culture. The paper further examines how, because of the nature of the medium, the film is more reliant on stereotypes. The writer proposes that, while a book can subvert stereotypes with a humanizing narrative voice and force the reader to see the world through the eyes of 'the other', regardless of the reader's gender or nationality, film finds this more difficult.
From the Paper
"The book's Cinderella story forces the reader to take on the persona of a marginalized person whose culture, country, and lifestyle is alien to most Americans. In contrast, the film "Memoirs of a Geisha," although made with Asian actors (and directed by an American filmmaker) eschews some of this first-person focus and instead stresses the brilliance of the colors and the exoticism of the geisha world to Western eyes. Thus, despite its visual power and iconography of color and design, the film tends to allow the viewer's mind to conform to stereotypes about Asians to a greater degree than that of the book."
| |
|
Asian Women and the U.S. Media, 1999.
Examines their depictions as "dragon ladies," geishas, passive wives, invisibility, examples (films, TV, print, ads) and negative and positive stereotypes.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 8 sources, AU$ 153.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
Introduction
One of the characteristic ways that human beings process information is to organize it in categories and use those categories to make sense of the world. According to Robert Emtman (1996), these stored categories, or schemas, are like mental filing cabinets which allow individuals to assimilate new information into categories of old information. The problem with this is that schemas can be unflattering stereotypes that resist change.
From the Paper
"Asian Women and the U.S. Media
Introduction
One of the characteristic ways that human beings process information is to organize it in categories and use those categories to make sense of the world. According to Robert Emtman (1996), these stored categories, or schemas, are like mental filing cabinets which allow individuals to assimilate new information into categories of old information. The problem with this is that schemas can be unflattering stereotypes that resist change. New data is simply assimilated with the old and seen as reinforcing it, in many instances.
The way that stereotypes operate is by organizing information about some racial group into a homogenous category, in which all, or most members of the group, are seen as..."
| |
|
The Oldest Profession, 2002.
A discussion about the history of prostitution and the current state of this profession.
2,820 words (approx. 11.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, AU$ 134.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The writer of this paper examines the history of the "profession" of prostitution. It looks at the conditions of employment and often exploitation of these women by pimps. The writer asks the question why this issue was never on the agenda for feminist groups and women's rights activists. It looks at the "geisha" system of Japan whereby prostitution is a recognized profession. It compares these attitudes to those in the Western world.
From the Paper
"Why is it that the job that is often called the world?s oldest profession does not have the world?s oldest union, or often any form of union representation at all? There is an additional irony to the economic status of the prostitute in today?s job market, for although the majority of these ?field soldiers? in the sex industry are female, prostitutes are also often underpaid and often exploited in their labors. Why have feminists shown so little concern over the status of prostitutes? After all, the practitioners of the ?world?s oldest profession? are demonstrable proof that women have, contrary to the popular media debates on the subject if women should work or not, have always worked in some capacity or another. A common defense of women working by feminists is that women?s work, like housework, has often been unpaid and invisible, or in the case of professional housecleaning and prostitution, poorly paid and tacitly ignored by society."
| |
|
Modernization of Japan, 2002.
This paper explores the transformation of Japan into a modern society and culture.
1,660 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 10 sources, MLA, AU$ 86.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper begins by discussing Japan?s long history of tradition and its structure and composition of society before modernization. The paper studies barriers that impeded the country?s entry into the modern world - the role of Japanese women, unawareness of the most important technological advances of the 20th century and arts, entertainment and the geisha culture. Next, the paper examines the Meiji era and Japan?s abrupt transformation to modernity. The paper concludes by looking at how Japan has managed to retain its traditions while becoming part of the modern world.
From the Paper
"The word ?modernize? is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as: to make modern in appearance, style or character; to accept or adopt modern ways, ideas or style. If we utilize this definition to explain modernization, we can assume that the term refers to the application of such an action in a particular instance. At any given point in time, ?modern? pertains to the latest developments in the area of discussion.
The modernization of a culture is often a difficult undertaking; the degree of difficulty involved corresponds to the rate at which that culture has developed. One of the most incredible modernization processes in the world?s history occurred over less than half a century, in the still-enigmatic country of Japan."
|
|
|
If you can't find your topic here, try another search
or try our affordable, unique custom paper alternative
Custom Research Services include:
- Papers written from scratch, according to your specifications.
Every paper is UNIQUE - Guaranteed
- Professional, top-notch writers
- All topics covered
- Any deadline
- Your satisfaction guaranteed
Place a Custom Research order now
Find out more about Custom Research
|
|
|
