Noh as Intermedia as Method

Beng Choo Lim
Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
3:30–4:00 pm

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Abstract: Noh theater developed in premodern Japan and has been studied both as literary work and performance since modern times. One could argue that Noh is “versatile” as it offers a wide spectrum of possible areas of specialization for both researchers and practitioners. In "Noh as Intermedia", we see an ambitious digital humanities project that breaks down Noh into various media elements, and presents a detailed analytical and technical “anatomy” of the genre, complete with interactive tools and illustrative videos. This presentation examines, among other things, the difference between a digital humanities Noh project and other kinds of web-based Noh projects. What does, or can, "Noh as Intermedia" bring to the users, both specialists and non-specialists? What do the inspirations and limitations of "Noh as Intermedia" illustrate? By asking these questions, I hope to address the significance of innovative methodologies in Noh scholarship and other traditional Japanese theatrical genres.

About the presenter: Beng Choo Lim is Associate Professor at the Department of Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore. Her earliest training was in traditional Japanese theatre and literature, although her research interests include different fields of Japanese culture, both traditional and contemporary. She is currently working on a project examining the relationship between traditional Japanese theatre and digital technologies.