A History of Puppets Puppetry is believed to have started in ancient cultures, more than 3000 years ago. It is sometimes claimed that puppets were used in the theater performances even before human actors. The earliest puppets probably were in Egypt, where ivory and clay puppets have been discovered in tombs. Many types of puppetry developed in different parts of the world, and some of it is still practiced today. In Japan, the bunraku puppetry tradition evolved out of rites practiced in Shinto temples. The Vietnamese created the unique practice of water puppetry, in which wooden puppets appear to walk in waist-high water; this was originally developed hundreds of years ago as a response to the flooding of rice fields. Indonesian shadow puppets are another example of a long-held folk tradition. Ceremonial puppets were also used in several pre-Columbian Native American cultures. Puppetry in Africa is art set in motion. Through the use of music and dance, masked performers become human puppets. The colorful, animated performances are part of life for the entire community. The puppeteers wear large character puppets that cover their bodies completely. In medieval Italy, marionettes were used in the production of morality plays by the Christian church. Later, the plays of William Shakespeare were sometimes performed with puppets in place of actors. Puppets also continue to be used in many instances to appeal to children and families, whether on television or in live performances. Puppetry is viewed as an ideal vehicle for presenting moral messages about childhood concepts such as bullying. Puppets are also used in play therapy as a safe way for traumatized children to explore their fears. Whether the focus is on adult or child enjoyment of puppets, there are regional puppet guilds and societies through the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. Several national and international museums also exist to celebrate the history of puppets.

There are many types of puppets There are many types of puppets. Each requires different skills to bring them to life. A rod puppet is controlled by different “rods” that move their arms, legs, or other joints. A hand puppet goes over the puppeteer’s hand like a mitten. Three finger provide movement for puppets body, while the thumb and the pinky make the arms move. A marionette is controlled by strings. In this type of puppetry, the puppeteer stands way above the stage and controls the puppet using a paddle connected to the strings. Pinocchio, from Disney, was a marionette. A moveable-mouth puppet also fits over the puppeteer’s hand. Four of the fingers control the top of the mouth, while the thumb operates the bottom jaw. The Muppets are good examples of this kind of puppet. Body puppets, also known as carnival puppets, are very large puppets that are used for street spectacles or large-scale theater, such as the live production of “The Lion King.” Two unusual types of puppetry are bunraku puppets and shadow puppets. Based in Japan, bunraku puppetry is performed with a nearly life-sized wooden puppet that is illuminated with focused light. The puppeteers dress in dark colors but can be indistinctly seen by the audience, lending a shadowy presence to the production. In shadow puppetry, the puppeteer is not seen. Instead, a silhouetted figure is illuminated with a light source, producing shadows that are viewed by the audience.

A History of Puppets Name: GO TO: mswolfdrama.weebly.com Click Beginning Find “Puppet Article” Use the article to answer the questions. About how long ago did puppetry begin? Where did puppetry probably begin? Where did Bunraku start? Where did puppets appear to walk through waist-high water? Describe the types of puppets used in African Masked Theater? What kind of puppet is operated by strings? What type of puppet are the Muppets? Write something you already knew from the article…. Write something you want to know more about… What a fact you found interesting…. Bonus: Give an example of a puppet you’ve seen before Turn this into the TURN IN box on Ms. Wolf’s desk when you are finished! You may play the “Beginning Theater Pacman” when you are done (volume down)