Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage

Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage

Puppet theatres

By Agnė Paltanavičiūtė

Chinese shadow puppetry

Unesco

Wayang puppet theatre

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

A form of theatre acted by colourful silhouette figures made from leather or paper, accompanied by music and singing.

This ancient form of storytelling originated on the Indonesian island of Java and has flourished their for ten centuries.

Purpose

Chinese shadow puppetry was included in 2006 and 2008 on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

To contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights.

It was acknowledged on 7 November 2003 as the best known shadow puppet theatre in Indonesia.

1. The puppets are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or scrim.

"Building peace in the minds of men and women"

2. Many puppeteers carve the puppets, which can have between twelve and twenty-four moveable joints.

Puppetry

1. The puppets ar made in two principal types:

• three-dimensional wooden puppet
• the flat leather shadow puppet

2. The master puppeteer manipulates the swivelling arms by means of slender sticks attached to the puppets.

3. Shadow plays are performed by troupes, primarily for entertainment or religious rituals, weddings and funerals and other special occasions.

3. Singers and musicians play complex melodies on bronze instruments and gamelan drums.

A form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 3000 years BC.

Puppets have been used since the earliest times to animate and communicate the ideas and needs of human societies.

It is believed that puppetry still performs the function of transmitting cultural values and ideas.

Contents

Intagnible objects

Opera dei Pupi

The importance of intangible cultural heritage is the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next.

The puppet theatre known as the Opera dei Pupi emerged in Sicily at the beginning of the 19th century.

It proposes five broad ‘domains’:

• Oral traditions and expressions (including language)
• Performing arts
• Social practices, rituals and festive events
• Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
• Traditional craftsmanship

• Unesco meaning and purpose

• Intangible cultural heritage

• Puppet theatres: an ancient form of art and storryteling

The Sicilian marionette theater was proclaimed in 2001 and inscribed in 2008 in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

The nominators are evalued by a panel of experts in intangible heritage.

Ningyo Johruri Bunraku

puppet theate

The traditional Japanese puppet theatre was founded in Osaka in 1684.

Ningyo Johruri Bunraku was designated Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1955.

Word list

The plots are derived from two principal sources: historical plays set in feudal times and contemporary dramas exploring the conflict between affairs of the heart.

1. The Bunraku puppets are nearly life sized, they have no strings but can move their arms and legs and even... eyes.

2. A shamisen player provides musical backround and supports the action by emphasizing the mood.

Intangible - unable to be touched;

Solidarity - unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest;

Pursue -

1. Follow or chase (someone or something);

2. Continue or proceed along (a path or route);

Forge - create (something) strong, enduring, or successful (synonym - build).

Domain - an area of territory owned or controlled by a particular ruler or government.

3. The puppeter plays all the characters, both male and female, and uses different voices and intonations to suit each role and situation

Information sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO_Intangible_Cultural_Heritage_Lists

• http://en.unesco.org/