___How Government Revenue Shaped Literature
Governmental support has had an enormous impact on the success and popularity of literature throughout history. Many successful writers and playwrights trace their beginnings to a government official who took interest in their work. Furthermore, it was particularly during the Enlightenment period that leaders started to value progress in the arts, and subsequently began to sponsor their own writers.
Case Studies:
Shakespeare (Tyler)
An artist's rendition of Shakespeare
Shakespeare's career began around the mid 1580's. Shakespeare's plays were only performed by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was owned by a group of playwrights. Under Queen Elizabeth the first theatres were built in England. This allowed for his group to stay in one place and gain popularity, instead of traveling. The group became the leading play company in London and was given a royal patent by King James I. The royal patent gave them the freedom to continue creating plays and to do so without interruption from higher power. Also, King James I changed their name to the King's Men. Shakespeare's group later made their own theater called the Globe Theatre. The company made him wealthy and he invested his wealth. By 1598 his name became a selling point and it began to appear on the title pages of the plays.
With the increase in government revenue, the government had more control in cities. This meant increases in guards and safety of the citizens. This provided an increase in the safety of the people, which means that people could start having more fun and doing more recreational activities. This includes the plays that Shakespeare created. Without the increase in government revenue Shakespeare would not have become as well-known as he is today.
With the increase in government revenue, the government had more control in cities. This meant increases in guards and safety of the citizens. This provided an increase in the safety of the people, which means that people could start having more fun and doing more recreational activities. This includes the plays that Shakespeare created. Without the increase in government revenue Shakespeare would not have become as well-known as he is today.
Kabuki (Nathan S.)
The earliest portrait of Izumo no Okuni, the founder of kabuki (1600s)
Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama. The individual kanji characters, from left to right mean sing, dance, and skill. Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as “the art of singing and dancing" The kanji of “skill” generally refers to a performer in kabuki theatre. Kabuki began in 1603 when Izumo no Okuni began performing a new style of dance drama in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto At this time Japan was under control of the Tokugawa shogunate. Female performers played both men and women in comic playlets about ordinary life. Another reason why this particular dance-drama got so popular was because often performers were available for prostitution. This style was immediately popular, and soon Okuni was asked to perform before the Imperial Court. During this period the Imperial Court had a positive look on this performance and influenced its growth on Japan. But the Shogunate was never partial to kabuki and all of the mischief it brought, particularly the variety of the social classes which mixed at kabuki performances. He banned women’s kabuki, called onna-kabuki, in 1629 for being too erotic. Following onna-kabuki, young boys performed in wakasu- kabuki, but since they too were eligible for prostitution, the shogun government soon banned waskashu-kabuki as well. They ended up using male actors which was know as yarō kabuki (young man kabuki) A diverse crowd gathered under one roof, something that happened nowhere else in the city. Performances went from morning until sunset. The teahouses surrounding or connected to the theater provided meals, refreshments, and good company. Kabuki, in a sense, initiated pop culture in Japan. In 1841 there was a great fire where the area that housed the Nakamura-za was completly destroyed, the shogun refused to allow the theatre to be rebuild, saying that it was against the fire code. The shogunate did not welcome the mixing and trading that occurred between town merchants and actors, artists, and prostitutes. The shogunate took advantage of the fire crisis in 1842 to force the Nakamura-za, Ichimura-za, and Kawarazaki-za out of the city limits and into Asakusa, a northern suburb to Edo. Actors, stagehands, and others associated with the performances were forced out as well. Those in areas and lifestyles centered around the theaters also migrated, but the inconvenience of the new location reduced attendance.
The rise and fall of Kabuki is a perfect example of the influence government regulation and government support can have on literature. When this particular style of performance was favored by the Imperial court, Kabuki began to see success, whereas banning of Kabuki obviously caused a decline. This is perhaps one of the most apparent examples of the effects of government revenue on a style of literature.
The rise and fall of Kabuki is a perfect example of the influence government regulation and government support can have on literature. When this particular style of performance was favored by the Imperial court, Kabuki began to see success, whereas banning of Kabuki obviously caused a decline. This is perhaps one of the most apparent examples of the effects of government revenue on a style of literature.
Miguel de Cervantes (Tyler)
A portrait of Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes was a tax collected who suffered bankruptcy and was jailed twice. He quit that career and turned to writing. He published his first work in 1585. It was a romance titled La Galatea. It received little notice, so he turned to drama, which was ultimately unsuccessful. He decided to portray a more accurate depiction of everyday life, and to express his ideas in clear language. Don Quixote was made and brought him international attention. He continued to make stories like that, showing narrative power, considerable humor, and a mastery of dialogue. He made stories until his death in January 1617.