Culture Is the Body: The Theatre Writings of Tadashi Suzuki

by Tadashi Suzuki, Kameron Steele (Translation)

"From his artistic home in the small village of Toga Mura in the Japanese Alps, Tadashi Suzuki's influence has spread around the world, transcending cultural and political boundaries. His bold vision of what the theatre can be and what the theatre can do is both uncompromising and exceedingly generous. The SCOT company's groundbreaking productions and methods of training have inspired and continue to inspire generations of theatre artists and audiences. The day I first met Suzuki, the trajectory of my life was altered irrevocably. The very existence of SITI Company is due to Suzuki’s foresight, bigheartedness and determination." -Anne Bogart

"What takes my breath away most about Tadashi Suzuki's work is the precision and accuracy with which he manages time and space. For one-and-a-half to two hours, the use of sound, precise scene transitions and mammoth energy compressed through his singular directorial vision create a sustained power which blows the audience away—a shocking style requiring an exceptional attention and concentration from the viewer. His unique method of rigorous actor training has made him a grand master of the rarest variety, enabling him to maintain a company that continues to inspire the evolution of contemporary theatre in our ever-changing world." -Yuri Lubimov

"In America the theatre for the most part is naturalistic. People want to be comfortable. They want to identify immediately with the situation. They want everything finished, put in a box and wrapped up with a bow. But I believe, ideally, you want to leave the theatre still thinking about it, still questioning it. What I find exciting about Suzuki’s work is that we come into the theatre and we have a surprise. We have to think about what we have seen and we leave the theatre thinking about it. I believe that in a sense my work is similar to what Suzuki is doing in his work. Theatre that you have to rethink. It poses more questions than answers." -Robert Wilson

Renowned for his actor training methods, Tadashi Suzuki provides a thorough and accessible formulation of his ideas and beliefs in this new edition of his theater writings. One of the world's most revered theater directors, Suzuki is also a seminal thinker and practitioner whose work has had a profound influence on theater worldwide. This landmark collection provides a useful, provocative look at his philosophical and practical approaches to the stage. Culture is the Body is a complete revision of Suzuki's influential book The Way of Acting , featuring new essays and in a revised translation by Kameron Steele, a longtime collaborator of Suzuki's.

Tadashi Suzuki is the founder and director of the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT), the organizer of Japan's first international theater festival (Toga Festival), and the creator of the Suzuki Method of Actor Training. Suzuki has articulated his theories in a number of books. He has taught his system of actor training in schools and theaters throughout the world. Besides productions with his own company, he has directed several international collaborations.

Genres: Theatre

216 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2015

Reviews

[Blondie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Παρα πολυ ενδιαφερον ακομα και αν διαφωνουσα σε καποια σημεια, καποια αλλα δεν τα καταλάβαινα επειδη αναφεροταν σε εναν εντελως διαφορετικο πολιτισμο απ τον δικο μας. πολλες αναφορες στην αρχαια ελληνικη τραγωδια και σε αλλα εργα πιο γνωστα πχ τρεις αδελφες, βασιλια ληρ
οποτε ετσι γίνεται καπως πιο κατανοητό


*δειτε το τωρα το ριβιου γιατι δε θα το ξαναδειτε συντομα💀*

[Vaiva Sapetkaitė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Šią knygą pirkau prieš metus, pabuvau dėl jos entuziastinga dieną ir tada padėjusi į lentyną pamiršau ilgam. Vis tik ateina atostogų metas, kai protinga prigriebta plonesnes, mažesnes, o svarbiausia plonais viršeliais knygas. Va, taip ir atėjo eilė puikiajam Tadashi Suzuki, jo teatro filosofijai ir vaidybos metodo subtilybėms...

Nors daviau tris žvaigždutes, knyga tikrai nebloga ir mane maloniai nustebino (tiesiog gal pati jos koncepcija sunkiai galėtų ištempti iki ketvirtos žvaigždutės "really liked it" paprastam "prašalaičiui", t. y. ne aktoriui ar bent šiaip teatro žmogui). Vis dėlto radau įdomios analizės, buvo apžvelgtas graikų klasikinis, realistinis ir absurdo teatras (bruožai, skirtumai ir kritika(, pasakota apie tradicinius Japonijos teatro žanrus no ir kabuki (ką be proto užsimaniau pamatyti gyvai). Tikiu, kad daug išmanančia apie teatrą asmeniui, šita knyga pasirodys per paviršutiniška, nes čia tarsi T.S. stekstų, kalbų, interviu rinkinys, kas dėliojasi kaip žavi mozaika, bet, matyt, į gelmes per daug nekeliauja... Vis tik pradedančiajam teatro kritikui ar bent spektaklių fanui, galvojančiam rinktis karjerą teatre šią knygelę būtų pravartu paskaityti.

Man asmeniškai labiau patiko net ne pats Suzukio metodas, o jo filosofijos perliukai apie kūrybą, profesionalumo, žmogaus egzistenciją ar socialinį aktyvizmą. Pagalvojau, kad tikrai norėčiau paskaityti jo dienoraščių/kūrybos užrašų ar užtaikyti ant kokios dokumentikos apie T.S.

Ar rekomenduočiau kitiems? Na, jei mėgstate teatrą, norite į jį geriau gilintis ne kaip į pramoga, o kaip socialinį/kūrybinį reiškinį, tada vertinga paimti "Kultūra - tai menas" į rankas, bet šiaip eiliniam skaitytojui kažin ar būtų įdomu. Čia jau iš anksčiau turi būti pasėta meilės teatrui sėkla :)

[Maki Morita · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not convinced by everything Suzuki san has to say regarding animal/non-animal energy. Nevertheless, I found many of his perspectives on drama, psychology, and Japanese society to be very insightful. The writing felt a little clunky, but this might be an issue with the translation.

[riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's really interesting reading this AFTER cultivating my own relationship with the training. strangely validating. i think if i had read this book before *really* getting into SMAT i would feel almost a little fraudulent? like i didn't actually come to my own conclusions about theatre and instead adopted them from this book. but no. this was just a deepening of what i already know from experience. anyway. really great read. fun to annotate.

[Kieran Westphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I were kameron steele…

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly historic perspective on theatre and its influence on world culture, seen from the wilderness of rural Japan, the “lonely village” of Toga Mura, famed director Suzuki and his translator/collaborator Steele offer up insights from the plays, performance styles and philosophical views. His desire to leave Tokyo and found a theatre company in such a remote location was not on he or his followers took lightly, but with enough time and animal energy, they built a place where both traditional theatre practices and boundary-crossing can occur. Being rooted to the ground through precise movements, the director shares the depth of his embodiment of dramatic influence, whether connecting to the gods, interacting with scene partners or exploring the absurd inner workings of self. Not simply a return to the old ways of staging plays, the company remains routed in the always present performing space that has outlived the flashy faddism of most digital platforms, and yet most SCOT performances are barely discussed and only just break even financially. The community that formed around the Suzuki Method, however, makes it an ongoing conversation with eternity.

[Alix Curnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and a heartfelt honoring of the work of Suzuki. The book not only details the application of the Suzuki method in both acting and directing, but provides political and historical context for Suzuki. Particularly dense topics are clearly explained and the interview at the end is especially poignant. A good book for not only actors but directors, playwrights, theatre practitioners, historians, politicians and anyone interested in the Suzuki method, Noh theatre or Japanese theatre history.

[Hili B. Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius. One of my favourite books ever.

[MimbleWimble___ Elli Maria Moutsopoulou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Έρχεται αρθράκι στη σελίδα pastaflora.mag 🥳

[Gianna P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Πολύ ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, σε μυεί σε ένα ιδιαίτερο τροπο θεατρικής εκπαίδευσης με έμφαση στην σωματική άσκηση ενώ παράλληλα μοίραζεται και τις σκέψεις του για την κοινωνία και την ζωή.

[Ilianna Kalkatzikou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένα στοχαστικό και βαθιά φιλοσοφημένο έργο που συνδέει το σώμα με την πολιτιστική ταυτότητα και την τέχνη του θεάτρου. Η γραφή του Suzuki είναι απαιτητική αλλά γεμάτη διορατικότητα, και οι ιδέες του για την πειθαρχία, τη φυσική παρουσία και την παράδοση έχουν διαχρονική αξία. Δεν είναι πάντα εύκολο στην ανάγνωση, αλλά είναι σίγουρα ουσιαστικό.

[Alba Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good