Arden Taylor (BA, MA)
Thesis title: Loveliness of the Lost: Alternative Masculinities in Noh as seen through Atsumori
Japanese
Year of study: 1
- School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
- Asian Studies
Contact details
- Email: arden.taylor@ed.ac.uk
PhD supervisors:
Availability
I will attempt to respond to emails promptly M-F, 8am-5pm.
Background
Arden’s interest in Japan began with the language, and he initially completed a double-major of Japanese language and linguistics at Western Washington University. During his two years on the JET program, he began an obsession with classical poetry. When he returned to Seattle to complete his MA at the University of Washington, he was thoroughly engrossed in a wide variety of classical literature, from poetry to the world’s first novel, Genji monogatari, to war epics like Heike monogatari. In the end, he chose to pursue the genre of literature which contains in it, for him, the most variety of genres all at once: noh drama. His trans identity also helps inform his study, as he became inspired to explore the apparent divergence of masculine cultures between depictions of the Genji and Heike clans, particularly within the highly stylized and minimalist medium of noh. His life’s purpose is to preserve these arts and make them accessible, in order to inspire each subsequent generation and preserve a lineage of aesthetic enjoyment.
CV
149597.pdf
Qualifications
B.A. in Japanese and Linguistics, Western Washington University, 2010
M.A. in Classical Japanese Literature, University of Washington, 2021
Undergraduate teaching
Premodern East Asian History
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
No
Research summary
Classical Japanese language and literature, classical poetics, waka, noh drama, gender studies, gender studies in classical literature, masculinity studies, hegemonic masculinity, warrior plays, Zeami, traditional performing arts
Current research interests
His PhD thesis will explore both the political and aesthetic implications of the depictions of soft masculinity emblematic of the Heike family in warrior noh plays derived from Heike monogatari.Past research interests
Mono no aware, affect, Genji monogatari, feminism in classical literature, waka poetry, traditional Japanese poetryAffiliated research centres
Conference details
Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, “Japan: Pre-Modern, Modern and Contemporary, A Return Trip from the East to the West Learning in, about and from Japan,” 2021, Title: “The Yūgen of Imperfect Masculinity: Three Heike shura-nō of Zeami."
Inter-University Center, Yokohama, Nippon Fellowship Foundation Study Group Presentation, 2021, Title: “From Heian to Muromachi: Shifting Masculinities, Focusing on Taira no Atsumori.”
Participant
Inter-University Center, Yokohama, Nippon Fellowship Foundation Study Group Presentation, 2021 Title: “From Heian to Muromachi: Shifting Masculinities, Focusing on Taira no Atsumori.”
Papers delivered
Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, “Japan: Pre-Modern, Modern and Contemporary, A Return Trip from the East to the West Learning in, about and from Japan,” 2021, Title: “The Yūgen of Imperfect Masculinity: Three Heike shura-nō of Zeami."