Wednesday, November 6, 2013
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lecture: "Tongue in Cheek: Decoding the Elusive Humor of 19th-Century Japanese Shunga"
By Stephen Salel

In "Tongue in Cheek: Decoding the Elusive Humor of 19th-Century Japanese Shunga," Stephen Salel focuses upon Tale of the Drunken Demon: A Ribald Parody (Ōeyama, 1831), a text by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) which will be featured in the Honolulu Museum of Art's exhibition Tongue in Cheek: Erotic Art in 19th Century Japan (November 14, 2013-March 9, 2014). By comparing Kuniyoshi's satirical work to the 14th century supernatural tale of Shuten Dōji upon which it is based, Salel offers insight into Kuniyoshi's humor.

This lecture deals with images and subjects that are sexually graphic and potentially disturbing, and it is not intended for a general audience.

Stephen Salel is the Robert F. Lange Research Associate for Japanese Art at the Honolulu Museum of Art, and co-curator of the exhibition Tongue in Cheek: Erotic Art in 19th-Century Japan.

Free of charge
Doris Duke Theater
Honolulu Museum of Art
Theater website