The History & Art of Geisha - What is a Geisha?

Geisha (芸者) or Geiko (芸妓) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. Contrary to popular belief, geishas are not prostitutes.

Video by EvTv1.com
Information by Wikipedia

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Art
• History
• Memoirs
• of
• Geisha

[cheryblosom]

Love this video! I am using it for my college English class.

[SzChristie]

Thank you! I am glad, you're using it for your English class.

[Konichiwa44]

Thank you for this video! I really hate when people assume Geishas to be prostitutes!

Western civilisation has really screwed up the symbol of the Geisha! >:(

[Aquakia]

what the fuck. theyre people. not "creatures"

[freacls]

the Geishas are so beautiful like dolls i so want to goto Kyoto and see them one day and their not what a lot of pepole say they are their peforming artists they get bad stories about them selfs which is sad im from Ireland and even i know their not hookers

[thatevening]

@Discordia5 You're very welcome and it was nice to converse with you too. :) I like Japanese history too and I've studied a lot about Geishas (my room could pass for a Geisha bookstore). Plus, I grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of people originally from Japan. Oh, and btw, a lot of past Geisha actually do agree with Golden's book but were super angry that he didn't comment when modern Geisha suffered sexual harrassment because of it. They felt he should have said something to protect them.

[Discordia5]

@thatevening Japanese history has always fascinated me, and yet I never once thought of it quite like how you put it- Maybe they see it as more important to protect the individual's (geisha) feelings than to tell the truth. When you look at it like that, it's not so bad! It still doesn't excuse all the semi-read Americans who will argue until blue in the face that they were somehow chaste women. That's not sympathetic, it's ignorant. Thanks, though, you were a real treat to converse with.

[thatevening]

@Discordia5 I agree it isn't right, but look at other things that are covered up. Much of what the Japanese army did still isn't admitted to and that makes hiding the past of Geishas look like nothing. Of course, this type of thing isn't limited to Japan. People tend to cover up things. I don't agree with it, but given the context, I think it seems rational to believe that they think they are protecting modern Geisha as well as older Geisha who are ashamed of what they had to do.

[Discordia5]

@thatevening So the Japanese are like many Caucasian cultures. They change/downplay history to cover up embarrassing points that don't align with currents standards for human rights. That's childish, not rational in my opinion, because changing history in this way prevents people from not only knowing the truth, but appreciating the evolution of culture.

[thatevening]

@Discordia5 Geisha try to downplay the sexual aspects because it was usually something they were forced to do. Traditionally, women were sold into the profession by their parents. They were ashamed of it and don't want modern Geisha to suffer because of it. So they choose to downplay it. It seems rational to me, given they are upset over it and not every single Geisha took part of it if she was able to avoid it.

[SadCarnage1224]

@Aquakia Geisha are 'nt that publicized an are very private in business an society what he meant they are prob beautiful women

[freacls]

@BeautifulPengu yeah thats true i think these women pissed of the real Geishas and started thise crule rummour and sadly it still sticks today iv got into arguments many of times with my brother as i have sevrel Geisha dolls and hes like what do you want those dirty prostitutes for and i end up screaming at him their not their entertainers like actreses some pepole are so dumb

[freacls]

i live in the UK and in my country a lot of peple still say their prostitues but their not after WW2 japaneseprostitiues dressed up in kimonos painted their faces and claimed to be geisha to the Americans when they werent so the Americans wnen home with that story saying they had sex with a geisha when they probely never seen the real geishas

[fuckmaass123]

POINT PROVED: a geisha is NOT NOR is a prostatute!!!!