Madame Butterfly

Giacomo Puccini the Italian composer presented to the Western world the most famous geisha of all: Cio-Cio San, also known as Madame Butterfly. The image of geisha was formed during Japan's feudal past. Geisha was traditionally men and served as physical and mental relief to battle warriors. The role of geisha has been dominated by women for the past 250 years and has served relief to career-driven businessmen. Geisha means "artist" and a geisha's manner of appearance, conversation, party-hosting and sexual performance is considered as an art form. They are helped to dress in their traditional kimonos and spend long hours powdering their faces white with kabuki make-up and appleblood-red lipstick. Geisha was revered not only in Japan but also fascinated in Western culture. Their image in the West as an exotic seductress skilled in the Kama Sutra arts of pleasing men is part of the European-American cultural stereotype of the Oriental perpetuated by French navy expeditions. Pierre Lot's...