The History And Reconsideration of Freak Shows

Freak Show: Presenting Human Oddities for Amusement and Profit by Robert Bogdan

Barnum and Bailey Poster Public Domain

See page for author, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Freak Show at Ohio State Fair by Jianjian Liang CC BYNC-ND 2.0

As a huge fan of Todd Browning’s Freaks and Leslie Fiedler’s Freaks: Myths and Images of the Secret Self, I was excited to read Bogdan’s book about the history and controversy surrounding freak shows and side shows. Bogdan traces the history of human exhibitions from the early exploitation of indigenous and non-European people on display in the 17^th and 18^th century, as well as advancements in medicine that began to examine human differences in appearance as abnormalities. Bogdan explores the conflicts inherent in this medical model that seems to argue for a standard in appearance and development and using deviations from the norm to advance our understanding of human development. At the time of these developments in medicine, PT Barnum was gaining popularity and frequently exhibited humans as part of his shows. Bogdan explores how performers like General Tom Thumb were able to make a living and become rather well known as a result of their exploitation and exhibition. He not only explores the history of some of the initial performers, but also interviews and explores the lives of modern performers (this book was published in 1988, so the performers were living in the 70s and 80s), and how the movement away from human exhibition was both a blessing and a curse. While Bogdan acknowledges the morally dubious aspects of human exhibition, he also interviewed some performers who struggled to find work or make a living due to restrictions and a declining interest in human exhibition. I found this book fascinating and important in exploring the sociology of disability and difference, and the complications that arise from our attempts to understand differences and norms. I also appreciated Bogdan’s meticulous research and classifications, noting that some performers were exploited for their differences, while others sought to explore their exceptionality and share the talents they developed as a result of their differences and/or disabilities (often performers without arms or legs). This was a great book that explores a controversial, yet important aspect of American culture and entertainment.