Wigs, masks, demons, and Buddhism—what's not to love? All of these elements play a role in Japanese theater during the Middle Ages, a topic the informational video covers in depth. An engaging host shares an exhaustive overview of the Kyogen and Noh styles with images and animations mixed in throughout the video.

Concepts

japanese history, dramatic plays, japanese folktales

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Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Read a selection of Japanese folktales or myths in small groups and turn them into short skits using ideas learned from the video
• Watch a performance of Kyogen theater and point out key aspects of the style

Classroom Considerations

• Requires some understanding of Japanese history and culture in the fourteenth century
• Pause the video frequently to check for understanding and to permit viewers to ask questions
• Episode 11 in the Crash Course series on Theatre

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Emphasizes and defines key words related to Japanese theater
• Makes connections to other time periods and types of theaters to improve depth of understanding

Cons

• Content moves at a fast pace; pause frequently to check for understanding

Common Core

RH.9-10.7 RH.11-12.7