Gripping and absorbing - so much to take in. I love dance - my own non-professional interpretation of it and watching others. It’s like any art form for me - intriguing, mystifying and complex. There are many layers to this tragedy. I agree with Jeff that this article raises many questions about “psychology, culture and criminal justice”. I did Google the dance form and was transfixed by it’s eerie beauty - my own opinion, obviously!
Fascinating read on so many levels. Losing “self” can happen in so many ways. I was not anticipating the suicide followed by the legal battle. Complex story. Curious to find a video of this dance.
Whoa. Interesting. I guess: kudos to the writer of this article for allowing such different interpretations! I'll need to re-read (and probably won't have time lol) to decide if I really want to defend Kan. But my initial take was that he wasn't using his position for sex. He seemed genuinely interested in the art and in his students. When a boss sleeps with a subordinate (or a teacher with a student) it doesn't always mean that (s)he went into it with that objective. But, sometimes, intimacy just happens. It's a reality of the human experience. Also, all humans have egos. And in yoga/meditation circles everyone is always telling each other (and themselves) to shed the ego. Though, clearly, it seems like that was damaging, given the way that Sharon idolized Kan.
This is my fav butoh dance video. I'm love the idea of using body as art form! I'll admit it's hard not to chuckle, but it definitely does what good art does: makes me think.
I don't disagree with anything you said, I just think it's laughable that Kan would judge Sharon for being an egoist. Does that not strike you as hypocritical? It's spiritual and artistic elitism which I find even more insufferable than the economic or class varieties.
This fascinated me, too, and I couldn’t quit reading till the end. Surprisingly, I was surprised Sharon killed herself. Her breakdown wasn’t surprising, but to me the suicide was. I need to think on it more but the more charismatic and personally powerful you are, the more responsibility you have to realize that and be careful with people’s psyches. I think Kan was reckless in that way. He may’ve been the egoist more than Sharon.
Absolutely engrossing and tragic. I don’t know what to think, but am intrigued by the idea of cross cultural practices operating as an overwhelming force.
Gripping and absorbing - so much to take in. I love dance - my own non-professional interpretation of it and watching others. It’s like any art form for me - intriguing, mystifying and complex. There are many layers to this tragedy. I agree with Jeff that this article raises many questions about “psychology, culture and criminal justice”. I did Google the dance form and was transfixed by it’s eerie beauty - my own opinion, obviously!
Fascinating read on so many levels. Losing “self” can happen in so many ways. I was not anticipating the suicide followed by the legal battle. Complex story. Curious to find a video of this dance.
I googled Butoh dance with Kan and Stern and found it. It’s not a “pretty” dance.
An incredibly sad story, powerfully told. This raises so many interesting and difficult questions about psychology, culture and criminal justice.
Kan — good guy or bad guy?
Obviously good, right?
He sounds like a pretty scummy dude to me.
So he's got a steady stream of young dance disciples that he's fucking but at the same time has the gall to call Sharon an "egoist"?
I don't think he did anything illegal, but how is he not a manipulative, hypocritical asshole? Also have you seen his "dancing"? Come on.
Whoa. Interesting. I guess: kudos to the writer of this article for allowing such different interpretations! I'll need to re-read (and probably won't have time lol) to decide if I really want to defend Kan. But my initial take was that he wasn't using his position for sex. He seemed genuinely interested in the art and in his students. When a boss sleeps with a subordinate (or a teacher with a student) it doesn't always mean that (s)he went into it with that objective. But, sometimes, intimacy just happens. It's a reality of the human experience. Also, all humans have egos. And in yoga/meditation circles everyone is always telling each other (and themselves) to shed the ego. Though, clearly, it seems like that was damaging, given the way that Sharon idolized Kan.
This is my fav butoh dance video. I'm love the idea of using body as art form! I'll admit it's hard not to chuckle, but it definitely does what good art does: makes me think.
I don't disagree with anything you said, I just think it's laughable that Kan would judge Sharon for being an egoist. Does that not strike you as hypocritical? It's spiritual and artistic elitism which I find even more insufferable than the economic or class varieties.
Interesting idea, never really thought too much about. Makes a lot of sense. And yes, slightly hypocritical for sure.
I think it’s safe to say you’ll never join a cult, lol
Fascinating. I have a million questions, but mostly I’m just stunned by the power of this art form. What a read!
This fascinated me, too, and I couldn’t quit reading till the end. Surprisingly, I was surprised Sharon killed herself. Her breakdown wasn’t surprising, but to me the suicide was. I need to think on it more but the more charismatic and personally powerful you are, the more responsibility you have to realize that and be careful with people’s psyches. I think Kan was reckless in that way. He may’ve been the egoist more than Sharon.
Absolutely engrossing and tragic. I don’t know what to think, but am intrigued by the idea of cross cultural practices operating as an overwhelming force.