I love seeing things taken out of context … or more correctly taking in new contexts. Most examples I have are from the arts - Shakespeare’s Hamlet staged in Nazi Germany, a Vietnam anti war movie musical using music by the Beatles, etc. When done right, it makes old material new again and gives audiences new ways of understanding tough subjects (whether it be “tough” = difficult, or “tough” = uncomfortable).

The included YouTube video is a little bit of this. It takes a classic song and an ancient music form and lets us know that people are not as stuffy as me may stereotype them to be.

Background: Most internet traffic related to the video only gives accolades and little information. It appears the performance was part of a commemoration for the 250th anniversary celebration of the Great Fire of Edo (Edo is the traditional name of Tokyo). The music was performed by is the Kabuki-za orchestra along with part of the Suntory Hall Orchestra.

Related tangests ...   Those blasted motivational posters - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em !   Hand written post   Putting it all together

Posted in Creativity |

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