Units 5 & 6 - Freak Show - Theory

• Performing Arts
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Freak Show: 

History and Cultural Context

Learning Objectives

• historical development and cultural significance of freak shows. 
•  key figures and events in the history of freak shows. 
• ethical considerations and societal impacts of freak shows. 
• the decline of freak shows and the factors contributing to this change.

What do you already know about freak shows?

Historical Origins and Evolution of Freak Shows

        Popular entertainment from medieval period to early 20th century.

       Initially rooted in curiosity about physical abnormalities.

       Commercial enterprises emerged in the 19th century.

Cultural and Societal Impacts of Freak Shows

• Freak shows reflected societal attitudes towards disability.
• Entertainment that raised curiosity and shock.
• Influenced perceptions of normalcy and abnormality.

Ethical Considerations and Exploitation

• Performers often exploited for profit.
• Grueling schedules and harsh conditions.
• Important ethical questions regarding representation.

Name one physical abnormality that would be present in a freak show

Definitions

Freak Show: An exhibition of unusual humans, often with physical or medical anomalies, intended to shock or entertain.

Dime Museum: A venue offering cheap entertainment, including freak shows, aimed at educating and amusing the public.

Sideshow: A secondary attraction, often featuring human oddities, in a circus or fair.

Decline of Freak Shows

• Changing societal attitudes in the early 20th century.
• Advancements in medical understanding.
• Rise of alternative entertainment forms.

HISTORY AND CONTEXT

EXAMPLES

• Phsychihc
• Comprachicos
• Siamese twins
• Freak fight
• Human zoo
• Musical number
• Clown
• Mimic
• Puppet
• The living skeleton

• Contortionist
• Bufon -grotesque style of clown

What else could be considered a freak attraction?

REVISION!

Write down 3 things you've learnt about Freak Shows and topics related?

When did freak shows peak in popularity?

1. Late 19th and early 20th centuries
2. Mid 20th century

What is a common act in modern freak shows?

1. Fire-eating and sword swallowing
2. Magic tricks
3. Dancing with animals
4. Acrobatics

What is a freak show?

1. A type of circus performance
2. A fashion runway show
3. A talent competition
4. An exhibition of biological rarities

Who wrote 'The Fall of the House of Usher'?

1. Mary Shelley
2. Wilkie Collins
3. Bram Stoker
4. Edgar Allan Poe

What contributed to the decline of freak shows?

1. Medicalization of human abnormalities
2. Rise of circus performances

What is a common theme in Gothic horror?

1. Happy romantic endings
2. Nature vs. technology
3. Comedy and humor
4. Humanity vs. unnatural evil

What was a common attraction in freak shows?

1. Magic tricks
2. Acrobatics
3. Animal acts
4. Human oddities

Which era popularized freak shows in America?

1. 20th century
2. 18th century
3. 19th century
4. 21st century

What type of people are featured?

1. Movie stars
2. Musicians
3. Professional athletes
4. Physically unusual humans

Which performer was often featured in freak shows?

1. Bearded lady
2. Clown
3. Juggler
4. Fire breather

What era produced famous Gothic horror novels?

1. Victorian era
2. Romantic era
3. Renaissance era
4. Modern era

What term refers to a travelling show of oddities?

1. Circus
2. Magic show
3. Freak show
4. Variety show

Which novel marked a shift in Gothic horror?

1. Frankenstein
2. Carmilla
3. Dracula
4. The Woman in White

• This House believes that freak shows exploit individuals with disabilities for public entertainment.
  
• This House would ban the use of human abnormalities as a form of spectacle in modern entertainment.
  
• This House believes that historical freak shows should be critically re-evaluated in the context of human rights.
  
• This House would establish stricter regulations on media representations of people with physical deformities.
  
• This House believes that modern society has a moral obligation to provide restitution to the descendants of those exploited in historical freak shows.
  

Debate on Freak Shows and Ethics