This thesis discusses the historical development of the Japanese comic performance genre of manzai, and its contemporary manifestations. The first chapter examines manzai's ritual origins in the Heian court and its subsequent expansion throughout Japan as an established performance style. The chapter also describes the genre of 'classical manzai' and discusses its present status. The second chapter examines how 'stage manzai' emerged in Osaka from a panoply of popular entertainment forms, and particularly from niwaka stage comedy. The third chapter describes the emergence of the genre of 'modern manzai,' details its adaptation to radio and discusses the impact of the Second World War. The fourth chapter examines modern manzai's post-war development and focuses on its representation through television. The fifth chapter provides excerpts of modern manzai performance in its various stages of evolution. Finally, the sixth chapter discusses the challenges facing modern manzai today and contemplates possibilities for its future.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.28239 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Bensky, Xavier Benjamin. |
| Contributors | Lamarre, Thomas (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Department of East Asian Studies.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001610724, proquestno: MQ41089, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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