1、Unit 7 ArtLesson 2 Beijing OperaQ1:What is Beijing Opera?Q2:When did Beijing Opera arise(出现)?Beijing Opera is a classic form of Chinese performance art,which combines the music of Chinese instruments,singing,miming(模仿),dancing and history.Beijing Opera arose in the late 18th century,and by the 19th
2、century,the art form was popular throughout the country.Today,it is regarded as one of the Chinas cultural treasures.Sheng生Dan旦Jing净Chou丑The common male role which has several subtypes(子类型)according to the characters age,personality and status.The female role.The influential(有权势的)male role with stri
3、king looks and high social position.The comedy/clown role who is usually active and quick.The masks in Beijing Opera represent(代表)the different characteristics(性格)of the personas on the stage.As red is traditionally a positive colour in Chinese culture,the colour signifies(象征)prosperity(繁荣),intellig
4、ence and bravery.Purple masks suggest justice and sophistication(精明).Although black is depicted(描述)as a negative colour in Western culture,the black mask is regarded as neutral(中立的).Whereas the green masks and yellow masks represent bad characteristics.The green mask implies(暗示)violence,and the yell
5、ow cruelty(凶猛).Similarly,although westerners traditionally see white as a symbol of purity,the white mask actually stands for evil.关羽包拯曹操典韦Beijing Opera is a visual art and therefore not as straightforward(直观易懂的)as films and plays.For example,the stage is meant to represent a totally different reali
6、ty.So if an actor walks in circles on the stage,it could symbolize(象征)that he or she has walked miles and miles.Similarly,the actors use a whip(鞭子)to hit an imaginary horse to pretend they are galloping(疾驰)across the land.Read the dialogues in P107 and answer the following questions.1.What forms of
7、performance are combined together in Beijing Opera?2.What are some of the special features of Beijing Opera?Beijing Opera combines acting,talking,singing,music,dancing and acrobatics(杂技)together.Beijing Opera has a very unique(独特的)sound and beautiful costumes(戏服)in bright colours.Read the dialogues
8、in P107 and answer the following questions.3.Why do performers sing in very high voices?4.Why are the costumes in bright colours?Because in the early days,it was usually performed(表演)on open-air stages.In order to be heard over the crowds,the music had to be loud and performers(表演者)had to sing in ve
9、ry high voices.Because in the past,it was often performed on stages that were lit(点亮)only by oil lamps.The costumes had to have bright and colourful patterns(式样).Otherwise(否则),it would have been difficult to attract the audiences attention.Read the dialogues in P107 and answer the following question
10、s.5.When the performer walks across the stage with a flag on each side of her,what is she doing?That means she is riding in a carriage(马车).Simple movements in Beijing Opera often represent more complex(复杂的)actions.East meets West:l How about perform western literature in the form of Beijing Opera?l How about sing Beijing Opera in English?
