The first known puppets can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Shadow puppets, on the other hand, happened later in Greece. Historians know this from Plato's simile that states, "humans understand the world no better than people watching shadows of unseen actions" (p.13). The next known civilization to use shadow puppets was in the Western Mediterranean, particularly in France. The French called these, "Chinese Shadows"
The island of Java had a tradition of shadow puppetry at least 1000 years old, where puppeteers are considered artists, priests, teachers, social critics, and comedians. They were originally leather cutouts, but eventually evolved into elaborate and unrealistic puppets because Islamic culture forbade the depiction of humans.
The first known puppets can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Shadow puppets, on the other hand, happened later in Greece. Historians know this from Plato's simile that states, "humans understand the world no better than people watching shadows of unseen actions" (p.13).
ReplyDeleteThe next known civilization to use shadow puppets was in the Western Mediterranean, particularly in France. The French called these, "Chinese Shadows"
The island of Java had a tradition of shadow puppetry at least 1000 years old, where puppeteers are considered artists, priests, teachers, social critics, and comedians. They were originally leather cutouts, but eventually evolved into elaborate and unrealistic puppets because Islamic culture forbade the depiction of humans.
ReplyDeleteShadow puppets were popular, specifically among upper class audiences, in Western Europe during the 18th century.
ReplyDelete