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A male actor holds the mask of a female character as part of the kabuki tradition of onnagata, where men play female roles. These actors change the pitch of their voices, their mannerisms, and their movements, and wear costumes with makeup or a mask to transform themselves for the stage. While women originally performed kabuki, they were banned in 1629, since there were concerns about prostitution and other suspicious activities that might occur beyond the confines of the theater. The onnagata tradition is still present today in kabuki, although now women sometimes play these roles.Label Type
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Label written by Brianna KellyLabel Type
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Gift of Carmen R. Croce, '71