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

Comments

[shanejayell]

Cool...

Also, thanks for the friend.
:)

Why, hello there!

[kyanited]

np, I only now noticed you had friended me. >_<

[ruderal_species]

I think I've seen this person's blog before. For someone who writes about Takarazuka, she doesn't seem to like it much...

It also seems from some of the things she says that she doesn't really know much about Takarazuka... of course, Dreamgirls itself is full of misconceptions. Though it did get some of the performers to talk about things they wouldn't have otherwise. Like having a boyfriend. ;)

[kyanited]

Oh, she does have a weak spot for certain performers...

Erica likes Ayaki Nao as Der Tod.

And she likes Touko :P

"But at some point Aran Kei stepped out on the stage as Fersen and my interest in Takarazuka was born. And despite my refusal to obsess, I do still like Aran Kei. :-)" (source)

But in general I think she doesn't care much about zuka, she's posted almost daily for years now and there are only 4 zuka-related posts.

>> of course, Dreamgirls itself is full of misconceptions.

I do like being told some background, but after reading some reviews and opinions on the Roberts book (published around the same time, I think), I'm sure I'll need some 'real' insider's guidance on how to take these works 'by westerners for westerners'...

"Intriguingly, the way most Westerners interpret the Takarazuka Revue, [...] - is often the complete opposite of that of many Japanese." (Some aticle I read a while ago.)

[sumire_no_hana]

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]

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