Zach
Is the Takarazuka, by having only female actresses, rebelling against the patriarchal society? Or are they reinforcing gender norms by practicing masculine kata?
Zaid
On pg. 27 Robertson says that the Tarazuka's Revue has "both parodied convention and reinforced the status quo." Is it so hard to decode popular culture because it has a dual meaning in it that can resist and reinforce status quo at the same time?
Tommy
"To a certain extent, then, everyone is passing--she or he is selectively (over)acting and (over)dressing in order to be perceived unequivocally as female or male. Is this a true representation of what gender is, a certain way to act or clothes to wear? Is a cross-dresser really becoming female or male in gender when they are in character?
Matt
Robertson describes a cross dressing male not as a copy of a female, but a copy of a copy. Are they trying to portray themselves as women really are, or as society expects women to be?
Ashley
In the introduction, the author describes how the Takarazuka performers do not simply imitate men but rather "camp it up" and exaggerate certain actions and gestures. Is this simply for the sake of humor or is there a deeper meaning in this purposeful exaggeration?
Laquan
What form, if any, of control is popular control? If it has a form, is it on the same premises as ideological control?
Marquis
Why does it seem that being a lesbian is worse than two gay men?
Brandon
How prevalent is homosexuality in Japan compared to the U.S.?
Collin
"In Japan, the key indicators for females of social adulthood are marriage and motherhood." With this quote in mind: Why do woman feel empowered when they play a male role during a Takarazuka show when the norms "should" point them toward wanting to play a more feminine role?
Tiye
Why might is benefit actresses in Takarazuka and Takarazuka itself to portray themselves as androgynous rather than simply manly?
Suzanne
Do you believe women acting as males in Takarazuka are women "unconstrained by a sexual and gendered division" or that they are simply females who wish to be, or perhaps even envy, males?
Peter
Would it not help the women of Takarzuka to let them have contact with men at times if it is men they are trying so hard to emulate?
Lauren
Is language capable of explaining Takarazuka or is it something more than can be explained? Androgyny is a term used to describe Takarazuka, however is it the best way to capture the essence of Takarazuka?
Jarred
Why do you think the Takarazuka performers take their assigned gender role so seriously, even when they are not performing?
Margaret
I found it interesting how Yanagita catagorized pop culture as being the "national, dominant culture". How does America view pop culture? Would you say that Americans see it as the dominant culture?
Katie
Do you think that pop culture is our national, dominant culture?
Meredith
How do the descriptions of "Asian Love" and "Hong Kong Storm" parallel the dramatic plot lines of the romance novels in Radway's novel? How do the roles of women compare and contrast between these two examples?
Simone
Why do you think there is such a difference between same sex relationships between two feminine women and relationships between one feminine and one butch woman?
Cara
One author said that some of the female audience members had a "latent" sexual attraction to the Takarazuka that was temporary and would soon pass. Does this suggest a fluidity of sexuality that undermines the traditional dichotomous (either you're gay or you're straight) way of thinking about sexuality?
Melissa
Fiske shares his view, "...popular culture as a domain of social relations characterized by struggle, opposition, and reaction to the forces of domination, be they capitalist, consumerist, sexist, ethnocentric, or racist." Do you believe this to be the case/find this true?
Marie
Why do you think that contemporary Japenese topics are not represented on the Takarazuka stage? Is it crucial for theatre goers "to dream of other lives in other worlds?" Would addressing topics about Japanese culture hinder the Takarazuka experience?
Kristyn
do you view the female takarazuka fans as inherently lesbian or do you think Japanese culture makes this view simply an alternative?
Ashley
The Takarazuka fan base consists of a lot of women who are strongly attracted to the Takarazuka actresses. Do you think these women are actually homosexual and have a legitimate attraction, or is this just simply a "phase" that is elicited by the performance?
Brandon
What kinds and how do you think different forms of media today try to assimilate people to the United States like the revue theaters were attempting to do back then in Japan?
Peter
Are Japanese leaders afraid of the powers of the Takarazuka and theater in general as seen with their attempted enactment of film and theater acts? Should they be?
Jerome
How is the Takarazuka an extension of a pan-Asian identity that was forced on the rest of Asian countries by the colonialism of Japan?
Beth
Were the political motives behind the takarazuka plays ever recognized or were the plays viewed as soley enjoyable to the Japanese people?
Margaret
It is interesting to think about how even Takazuka is unders state supervision. That reminded me of the film we watched, "This film is not yet rated". Is pop culture largley based upon goverment approved ideas?
Marie
"The effects that pageants and revues had on the performers were as important as those they had on the audience..." Why is this? Why is it important for the performers to both feel the effects themselves and also make sure they are acting in such a way that the audience feels the same?
Zach
Is the Takarazuka, by having only female actresses, rebelling against the patriarchal society? Or are they reinforcing gender norms by practicing masculine kata?
Tommy
"To a certain extent, then, everyone is passing--she or he is selectively (over)acting and (over)dressing in order to be perceived unequivocally as female or male. Is this a true representation of what gender is, a certain way to act or clothes to wear? Is a cross-dresser really becoming female or male in gender when they are in character?
Matt
Robertson describes a cross dressing male not as a copy of a female, but a copy of a copy. Are they trying to portray themselves as women really are, or as society expects women to be?
Ashley
In the introduction, the author describes how the Takarazuka performers do not simply imitate men but rather "camp it up" and exaggerate certain actions and gestures. Is this simply for the sake of humor or is there a deeper meaning in this purposeful exaggeration?
Marquis
Why does it seem that being a lesbian is worse than two gay men?
Brandon
How prevalent is homosexuality in Japan compared to the U.S.?
Suzanne
Do you believe women acting as males in Takarazuka are women "unconstrained by a sexual and gendered division" or that they are simply females who wish to be, or perhaps even envy, males?
Cara
One author said that some of the female audience members had a "latent" sexual attraction to the Takarazuka that was temporary and would soon pass. Does this suggest a fluidity of sexuality that undermines the traditional dichotomous (either you're gay or you're straight) way of thinking about sexuality?
Marie
Why do you think that contemporary Japenese topics are not represented on the Takarazuka stage? Is it crucial for theatre goers "to dream of other lives in other worlds?" Would addressing topics about Japanese culture hinder the Takarazuka experience?