Hello, I hail from the Indian state where Kathakali is performed, and I just wanted to say I loved this video. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised to see this atop my subscriptions feed, haha. This was a concise and fairly balanced description of the dance form. I was half afraid there were going to be some misunderstood or misinterpreted facts, which unfortunately happens in a lot of YT vids explaining such things from a foreign cultural perspective. But I really enjoyed this one. And I do laud you for trying to do the sringara bhaava, or the 'erotic' expression... because though you didn't mention it, probably due to the time constraints, Kathakali dancers take years to train their facial muscles, not just learn the hand gestures. Literally months or years of learning to move many of their facial muscles independently of each other, with great control and in graceful conjunction with the other ones. So, to actually do an expression of that kind, takes a dancer a long time. But still, a valiant attempt on your part. I know I can't and will not try with my more or less wooden face. Hehe. So cheers, and thank you for this great vid. :)
+Absurdister WHILE I agree with some of your commentary above, I (also a Malayali) had a really strong distaste with Mike using the words "sacred" and "secular" multiple times. It is as if the commentary and analysis was written by people who cannot escape the "Abrahamic" framework. I am not surprised, but still "meh".
@A Bcde That is his main audience, and when you're trying to explain something, you have to put it in terms your audience understands. This is a great video for those unfamiliar with the cultural system in India/Kerala, and it stayed focused on the art itself. You can't go into those kind of nuances and keep that focus, in such a short video. I felt he did a good job, but to each his own.
It reminds me of hula. Hula proper was suppressed as a part of the suppression of Hawaiian religion and language. This was because it was an important part of religious practice. Halaus are the place where it is properly taught and it likewise takes a long time of practice there to learn the music and performance skills. What was said about the importance of gesture in these performances seemed very apt. Dance and dance drama can be a very powerful way to express that which cannot be expressed the same with different methods. And it is very easy to lose track of over time, so we must appreciate them and their intricacies while we can.
The modern state of Hawaii is mostly Christian, because of missionaries, the suppression of the original religion, and also people moving there. I was speaking about the older religion, which as far as I know is only called Hawaiian religion. I do not know of a name for the religion as a whole, although there are other parts of it with names like the Kapu system.
saw a kathakali performance in kerala while visiting family and it was spectacular. we got to watch the performers get ready and it was so fascinating.
I would like to add a few points : ● Kathakali assumed to be the changed from of another art form called "Ramanattam" which were 8 stories of Lord Ram. ● Like 'Koodiyattam' and 'Krisnanattam' kathakali was also limit upper class audiences. ● There are other 'minukku' (yellow face like female) for male characters. They usually are Brahmins... ● Female characters (except Kari) dont were head gears or fake nails. ● Kathakali holds Guinness World Record fir thickest facial makeup . Thank you for your effort to do this video. - with love , A Kathakali Artist.❤
Yes. CrashCourse. Ilove the way they explain stuff. The convey so much and it isnt as stressing as somepeople might think. And may just add that Mike trying to do the head thing was so funny and I don't know why but it made mt day. Keep rocking and keep the videos coming cause I just can't get enough of them. Thanks CrashCourse.
ekalavya was the greatest archer but he learned archery by secretly hiding and learning from the classes of dhronacharya the guru of pandavas and kauravas when dhron met ekalavya dhron asked gurudakshina as ekalavy s thump and ekalavya sincerely gave his thump to dhronacharya
Jim Schwartz no... I'm from Kerala, spoke Malayalam all my life. We most definitely have a soft "th" sound, and it is most definitely soft in Kathakali.
As I can assume form the 4:30 part is the writer of the "facial expression Handler" had a Asian wife (not Indian Asian a Asian asian. Like Chinese, Nepali thai.)
Hello. Can I please get a video on the Russian revolution. I'm in desperate need of it because Crash Course videos are elaborate and explain in a very efficient and effective manner. Please do take this into consideration.
Paul Mathew I don't think that is what kathakali or any other Indian theatre implies. Most Indian philosophies deem all creation including the entire universe as sacred. Secular is more a political term than philosophical.
I know this is an old video and I probably won't get a response, but in this and a couple of other Asian forms of theater you've covered, the performances were extremely long. Were the audience expected to maintain the rapt attention and fixed seating that Westerners tend to think of when we think of being an audience, or were these a bit more casual, like a rock concert?
Demon dance party? A rather reckless title for a video describing a very intricate and meticulous classical dance form of an ancient culture... why make all effort to learn about an auspicious piece of heritage and reduce it to a “demon dance party” - is this just negligence in research or deliberate irreverence... Who would make good food and serve it on dirty platter... meh...
They were created independently. Kathakali evolved from ramanattam and krishnanattam before 17th century. Both of these evolved from koodiyattam that goes back to the first century AD. Kabuki evolved indepemdtly during the same 17th century in Japan. Both were meant to enact folk stories and epics, and along with it,the makeups involved all symbolic aspects that hinted at the various aspects of the character. For example,in Hinduism,red symbolises blood and refer to warrior type characters, and thus Hanuman, and other warrior characters have red paint on their faces Likewise, green symbolises the hero nature,and thus the heroes of the stories had green faces and a white beard, since that white beard represents wisdom and maturity,(like the sages) and this they have the white beard.
@@kdvr766 those are female characters. The play is traditionally meant to be performed by men. And the exxagerared make ups are to make stronger impact on the features of the characters.
@@kdvr766 I think regardless of who plays the woman character ,fake breasts would be mandatory to indicate that the character was a woman. You see, even if one were to possess real breasts,they'd be indistinguishable under the heavy embellishments of the costume.
English-as-a-first-language speaker completely unqualified in a foreign language butchering pronunciations so confidently: native people goes “ thanks for covering our culture. I never knew this before you told me about my culture”
Yea I think I'll Stick with My Jellicle Make-Up, at least that only takes Half an Hour to put on, and Nothing in the Eyes, Nose, or Mouth, and with Brother Alonzo, Mentor Mistoffelees, and Myself Only the Basic Colors are used. Black and White, with Munkustrap there's some Grey, There are other Colors, but ALL JELLICLES have Black Eyeliner, I'm the Only 1 without Eyebrows. good job on the vid.
No link to any *actual* kathakali performance in the description? No snippets from other plays? Such heavy focus on theory gives an illusion of knowledge which does not have any actual experience. Case in point: 4:30 . Without providing a reference of the actual bhava (performance of an expert), how is any viewer supposed to evaluate your performance? What you did, seemed more like a mockery, than a performance. If you had the decency to show an actual example of the performance, you need not explain the bhava being erotic, the viewers would have understood it immediately. Let me guess, your Chinese opera video is also equally lame.
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
Hello, I hail from the Indian state where Kathakali is performed, and I just wanted to say I loved this video. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised to see this atop my subscriptions feed, haha. This was a concise and fairly balanced description of the dance form. I was half afraid there were going to be some misunderstood or misinterpreted facts, which unfortunately happens in a lot of YT vids explaining such things from a foreign cultural perspective. But I really enjoyed this one. And I do laud you for trying to do the sringara bhaava, or the 'erotic' expression... because though you didn't mention it, probably due to the time constraints, Kathakali dancers take years to train their facial muscles, not just learn the hand gestures. Literally months or years of learning to move many of their facial muscles independently of each other, with great control and in graceful conjunction with the other ones. So, to actually do an expression of that kind, takes a dancer a long time. But still, a valiant attempt on your part. I know I can't and will not try with my more or less wooden face. Hehe. So cheers, and thank you for this great vid. :)
+Absurdister WHILE I agree with some of your commentary above, I (also a Malayali) had a really strong distaste with Mike using the words "sacred" and "secular" multiple times. It is as if the commentary and analysis was written by people who cannot escape the "Abrahamic" framework. I am not surprised, but still "meh".
Absurdister I'm your neighbor Karnataka.......
@A Bcde That is his main audience, and when you're trying to explain something, you have to put it in terms your audience understands. This is a great video for those unfamiliar with the cultural system in India/Kerala, and it stayed focused on the art itself. You can't go into those kind of nuances and keep that focus, in such a short video. I felt he did a good job, but to each his own.
@SUHAS H G Hello there, neighbor. :)
Me too... I checked the tittle twice. And I agree with you.
I am from Kerala, congrats on your admirable attempt to appreciate and explain this esoteric art! Kudos.
How are you and your family up there brother with the nation's headlines buzzing last couple of weeks with the devastating floods in kerala?
I dare anyone to use those facial expressions in a bar the next time they're looking for romance. Lol
hahahahaha
4:30 Don't get too erotic Mike we don't want this video to be age-restricted!
It reminds me of hula. Hula proper was suppressed as a part of the suppression of Hawaiian religion and language. This was because it was an important part of religious practice. Halaus are the place where it is properly taught and it likewise takes a long time of practice there to learn the music and performance skills. What was said about the importance of gesture in these performances seemed very apt. Dance and dance drama can be a very powerful way to express that which cannot be expressed the same with different methods. And it is very easy to lose track of over time, so we must appreciate them and their intricacies while we can.
CplAnguadaEarth what is the common religion in hawaii?
Obama!
CplAnguadaEarth thats really interesting .
The modern state of Hawaii is mostly Christian, because of missionaries, the suppression of the original religion, and also people moving there. I was speaking about the older religion, which as far as I know is only called Hawaiian religion. I do not know of a name for the religion as a whole, although there are other parts of it with names like the Kapu system.
This has been the funniest episode so far. Mike doing the face expressions just killed me.
Finally!
Someone who can explain about Kathakali very neatly!
YES!
saw a kathakali performance in kerala while visiting family and it was spectacular. we got to watch the performers get ready and it was so fascinating.
I really love this series. Mike is wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
I would like to add a few points :
● Kathakali assumed to be the changed from of another art form called "Ramanattam" which were 8 stories of Lord Ram.
● Like 'Koodiyattam' and 'Krisnanattam' kathakali was also limit upper class audiences.
● There are other 'minukku' (yellow face like female) for male characters. They usually are Brahmins...
● Female characters (except Kari) dont were head gears or fake nails.
● Kathakali holds Guinness World Record fir thickest facial makeup .
Thank you for your effort to do this video.
- with love ,
A Kathakali Artist.❤
Yes. CrashCourse. Ilove the way they explain stuff. The convey so much and it isnt as stressing as somepeople might think. And may just add that Mike trying to do the head thing was so funny and I don't know why but it made mt day. Keep rocking and keep the videos coming cause I just can't get enough of them. Thanks CrashCourse.
This presenter/host is my favorite. Super cute and charismatic. ^^
Eyyy Finally doing South Indian content I love it! Super underrated part of the world you should do Tamil nadu next
Well he can do a vid about Karnataka,The reason why he can't do a vid about Tamil Nadu is cuz there are no theatrical dance forms in Tamil Nadu.
Kathakali carries the stories of our people 💪🏾
The line "by means of your play you protect the whole universe" refers to shiva's "dance" which keeps the energy of the universe active
And the name of Shiva's dance is Shiva Tandava.
Another dance,invented by him is called Bharatnatyam
Yeah Kerala represent!
Laughed till tears, Mike is brilliant!
I'm from Kerala and I had no idea what kathakali was. Thanks for this!
My god. I have been watching so many crash course videos and never knew you guys made a video on kathakali. Just wow
A man, I need to watch some previous episodes before that video! I look forward to it! Keep up the AMAZING work, I am really thankful for what you do.
Learning about Indian theater? Taught by Mike? Yes, please! Keep him teaching us about more liberal arts
Damn, I'm from Kerala and never saw or was interested in Kathakali, but here I am learning about it from CrashCourse. :D
You were too busy learning foreign culture maybe that you chose to ignore your very own
@@edwardkumarkenway1875 is that what happened to you?
The title of this video is outrageous
It's amazing how great this show is.
Thanks crash course 👍👍👍👍👍
Proud to be indian.
Annoying Guy-Yeah u really signify ur name...
Typical jealous stereotype
Annoying Guy it's not others work. It is the work of ancestors and forefathers. Why can't we be proud of our ancient and rich culture?
Technically he isn't wrong, is he?
@@ayushsharma9270 , yes he appears not...
But he is technically diplomatic
Thanks. Love from India.
Wow. Really, really beautiful effort.
Thank you for appreciating our culture 😘
കഥകളി
കൂടിയാട്ടം
കൃഷ്ണനാട്ടം
thatz the language guys... malayalam.. bro.. polichu tta...
Beautiful video. I learned a lot about kathakali here... despite being an Indian. Continue to teach about Indian theatres.
ekalavya was the greatest archer but he learned archery by secretly hiding and learning from the classes of dhronacharya the guru of pandavas and kauravas when dhron met ekalavya dhron asked gurudakshina as ekalavy s thump and ekalavya sincerely gave his thump to dhronacharya
There are other similar theater performance like theyyam & ottanthullal
I hope this awesome art doesn't die and people of tge state spend money and encourage it.
If that doesn't end up as a gif then I don't know the internet lol
4:30 is the best part thank me later.
A+ for effort :) and A++ for LoLs :D at 4:30
Just want to know how much time you spent rehearse your bhavha. I know I couldn't do it.
I love kathakali and all Indian forms of india.Its amazing to learn classical form of dance ❤❤❤❤
The "th" of Kathakali is soft... Like the word "the"
😂😂😂😅
Wrong, there is no "soft" th sound in most Indian languages. The "th" is pronounced like the "th" in "lighthearted".
Jim Schwartz no... I'm from Kerala, spoke Malayalam all my life. We most definitely have a soft "th" sound, and it is most definitely soft in Kathakali.
Jim Schwartz that level of unwarranted confidence. Way to go. Keep it up!
@@saig2007 right? I wonder where on Earth he heard smth like that
As I can assume form the 4:30 part is the writer of the "facial expression Handler" had a Asian wife (not Indian Asian a Asian asian. Like Chinese, Nepali thai.)
Wonderfully and thoroughly explained.. appreciate the work..
Fan from Kerala
I loved your neck moves... Hahah... A very nice video...
You killed it, Mike... You really did
I love how they spell it😁
1:10 I don't think very many people are going to say that with you and get it right.
One like from Kerala.. 😍
Great video. Instant like. 😄
Thanks Mike & CrashCourse. Please do videos on Kuchipudi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam,Dandiya etc.,, Please kindly consider my request..
thanks from india
Hello. Can I please get a video on the Russian revolution. I'm in desperate need of it because Crash Course videos are elaborate and explain in a very efficient and effective manner. Please do take this into consideration.
Brother your flexibility 😂🤣🤪
Excellent!
I vaguely remember an Arjuna anime.
please also make a video on mohiniyattam which is also a traditional dance of Kerala
Love you!!!
So we are learning Culture and history?
We're learning theater! So. Yes :)
Culture tends to shape history, so why not?
Mike for President!
Can someone tell me what word he says in 8:24? Is it caravel cousins? It doesn't make too sense for me.
It is 1:28 am and u upload now I'm in a different country so yeah
This was fantastic. Btw what did you mean by 'secular' here?
adi g.m Something not related to religion. Like he mentioned how Shakespeare dramas are adapted.
Man is secular(not sacred but worldly) and God is sacred (holy and divine).
Paul Mathew I don't think that is what kathakali or any other Indian theatre implies. Most Indian philosophies deem all creation including the entire universe as sacred. Secular is more a political term than philosophical.
@@paul3003mathew Thats a christian way of looking at the world.But we are not christians!
@@saptakmukherjee3051 And how do 'we' look at the world?
I know this is an old video and I probably won't get a response, but in this and a couple of other Asian forms of theater you've covered, the performances were extremely long. Were the audience expected to maintain the rapt attention and fixed seating that Westerners tend to think of when we think of being an audience, or were these a bit more casual, like a rock concert?
Wow!
and i am also from kerala where kathakali is performed
Hi, from Kerala ;)
It's Kerala artform .
See I'm Indian and my parents could never properly explain it me
Oh no I dropped my blending sponges
Anyone know what those pointy head ornaments are called are called? 1:42
macabrescott they are helmets know as 'sirstran' in hindi
Kireeta or Makuta.
That is probably a Thai (or Khmer) painting.
Demon dance party? A rather reckless title for a video describing a very intricate and meticulous classical dance form of an ancient culture... why make all effort to learn about an auspicious piece of heritage and reduce it to a “demon dance party” - is this just negligence in research or deliberate irreverence...
Who would make good food and serve it on dirty platter... meh...
awesome presentaton bro..
Kathakali reminds me of kabuki
You went from very uncomfortable to "how you doing" when you did that face motion
4:30 I AM SEDUCED MIKE
You're demonstration was spectacular. You're face became like a mask!
thtz frm ma place .. Kerala..
4:30 he looks constipated
Cool, this seems very similar to kabuki thats really interesting! I wonder if they have similar roots or if they were created independently?
I don't know about Malyalam, but Japanese sound very similar to Marathi
Something similar to that. Both are theatre arts.
They were created independently.
Kathakali evolved from ramanattam and krishnanattam before 17th century. Both of these evolved from koodiyattam that goes back to the first century AD.
Kabuki evolved indepemdtly during the same 17th century in Japan.
Both were meant to enact folk stories and epics, and along with it,the makeups involved all symbolic aspects that hinted at the various aspects of the character.
For example,in Hinduism,red symbolises blood and refer to warrior type characters, and thus Hanuman, and other warrior characters have red paint on their faces
Likewise, green symbolises the hero nature,and thus the heroes of the stories had green faces and a white beard, since that white beard represents wisdom and maturity,(like the sages) and this they have the white beard.
When will we get to romanticism?
എന്റെ സായ്പ്പെ അമേരിക്കേല് കഥകളി പഠിച്ച ഇന്ഗ്ളീഷ് അറിയാവുന്ന മലയാളികളില്ലാഞിട്ടാ?
Demon dance ? Keep some better headline to catch people.
And this is a crash course for what grade?
Terry Smith 9 and three quarters
I cannot even believe it. I just cannot.
Ikr what's with the fixation of fake breasts
@@kdvr766 those are female characters. The play is traditionally meant to be performed by men.
And the exxagerared make ups are to make stronger impact on the features of the characters.
@@rajeswarigopi9442 wouldnt it be more convenient if women play the women characters?
@@kdvr766 I think regardless of who plays the woman character ,fake breasts would be mandatory to indicate that the character was a woman. You see, even if one were to possess real breasts,they'd be indistinguishable under the heavy embellishments of the costume.
Believe what?
lmao he _butchered_ the pronunciation.
But good effort.
English-as-a-first-language speaker completely unqualified in a foreign language butchering pronunciations so confidently: native people goes “ thanks for covering our culture. I never knew this before you told me about my culture”
Very good video, but the narrator's trial at Sringara Rasa seemed comic and unnecessary. You could have had a trained dancer do it for you.
Yea I think I'll Stick with My Jellicle Make-Up, at least that only takes Half an Hour to put on, and Nothing in the Eyes, Nose, or Mouth, and with Brother Alonzo, Mentor Mistoffelees, and Myself Only the Basic Colors are used. Black and White, with Munkustrap there's some Grey, There are other Colors, but ALL JELLICLES have Black Eyeliner, I'm the Only 1 without Eyebrows. good job on the vid.
Lol
No link to any *actual* kathakali performance in the description? No snippets from other plays? Such heavy focus on theory gives an illusion of knowledge which does not have any actual experience.
Case in point: 4:30 . Without providing a reference of the actual bhava (performance of an expert), how is any viewer supposed to evaluate your performance? What you did, seemed more like a mockery, than a performance. If you had the decency to show an actual example of the performance, you need not explain the bhava being erotic, the viewers would have understood it immediately. Let me guess, your Chinese opera video is also equally lame.
First...
First =)