Pointer

[kyanited]

I'm sure some of you have read it, I'm also sure some haven't, and some most likely have seen the film.

Erica's review of the 1994 Takarazuka documentary Dream Girls

"Secondly, it's important to remember that Takarazuka was NOT designed to create strong, independent women - its was created to create "good wives, wise mothers." These women are not graduating to positions of financial and personal independence; they are expected to marry and subordinate themselves fully to their husbands-"


I'm quite happy times are a bit different now. *pets movie-star Saeko*


ETA: *also pets movie star Dan-chan*

Comments

[sumire-no-hana.livejournal.com]

There are few western writings out there about Takarazuka that it's difficult for people not to fall back on the standard recommendations. Part of the problem is that most of these are western views on a product of a non-western culture. (Though the revue is heavily influenced by western culture, it's obviously Japanized and lays in the context of a culture outside of our own with fans who are steeped in that same culture and its mores)

Yes... my only advice is to take Roberts's book with a very large grain of salt. -_- I have this horrible tendancy to bite my lip and stop myself from saying anything whenever people recommend it - I even hesitate to say that it's a good introduction to Takarazuka. It's so heavy on it's own agenda that things are quite obviously skewed.

I've never actually seen the Dream Girls documentary, so can't provide any information there.

The best I've come across, thusfar, is Stickland's thesis and offers a much more complex and learned view than Roberts's book

(sorry this is so long!)

[sumire-no-hana.livejournal.com]

And I'm sure all of this is old news to you, so just ignore all this if I've rambled too much ^^;

[kyanited.livejournal.com]

XD Well, yes, I downloaded this thesis a while ago (haven't read it all yet).

I think someone's comment on the Robertson book was that even if the text is debatable, the pictures are pretty. :D Yay zuka.

Part of the problem is that most of these are western views on a product of a non-western culture. (Though the revue is heavily influenced by western culture, it's obviously Japanized and lays in the context of a culture outside of our own with fans who are steeped in that same culture and its mores)

Thank you for phrasing my thoughts so concisely. :P

[ladybretagne.livejournal.com]

You make an excellent point. The thing that strikes me particularly is that so many Westerners who decry or at least criticize the gender roles and perceived misogyny of the revue seem to be doing it from such a stance of Western dominance. Honestly, there is still such /rampant/ sexism at work in American culture that the undercurrent of "oh wouldn't they be better off somewhere else or doing something else" just strikes me as short sighted and, as you said, taking what is being studied out of the necessary cultural context. Cultural relativism is an important thing that seems to be missing from a lot of what is available in terms of academic or at least semi-academic discussion of the revue.

[muffin-song.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people fall into this trap. What annoys me the most is when people start generalizing that ALL Japanese women are like this. While it's a generalization that is based in some truth, it annoys me because it completely leaves out the women who work at my school who put in just as many hours as the guys. And some of the other more high powered women I know.

Japan's gender relations aren't perfect, but I think sometimes when talking about gender relations in Japan people start idealizing women's role western society too much. Cause the western world definitely still has problems too.

[ladybretagne.livejournal.com]

It's no more accurate to say that all Japanese women are the shy retiring wallflowers that stereotypes make them out to be than it is to say that all Californian women are health-nut beach bunnies or wannabe actresses. Globally gender equality is a problem and it's so ridiculously arrogant of Westerners to look down upon what they perceive as issues in other cultures without turning that same critical eye to the things that Western media perpetrates on the psyches of women.