# Art and Performance in Plays

> Theme guide for Plays by Zeami Motokiyo.

The plays themselves are meta-theatrical, with characters commenting on their own roles, dances, and songs—as in Yamanba, where a singer performs the story of a she-devil, and in the chorus's explanations of symbolic gestures, highlighting the transformative power of art to convey truth and emotion.

## Where it surfaces

- [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_2_se/chapters/act-ii): The sacred dance and music performed by the god and the chorus highlight the ritualistic and performative aspects of worship and celebration.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_2_se/themes/art_and_performance
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plays_2_se/themes