Freak Show History

The thought of the circus sideshow acts seems like a hazy memory in the history of America. However, many television programs are recreating a modern version of P. T. Barnum’s freak shows. People today have the same curiosity or maybe even more curiosity than the people of the past to see these types of shows. The strangest part of today’s society is that there has never been a time when viewing the strange was so accessible. Therefore, my personal perspective is that freak shows still exist in the 21st century however they are less barbaric and in a different form than they once were in the past. First of all, I’ll be the first to admit that I have watched many shows on TLC and other programs that shows people who are different or strange.

Some negative opinions I have is that most individuals watching these types of shows probably do not even consider the fact that history might be repeating itself. People talk about how horrible it was for people to pay money to stare at “freaks.” However, people continue to stare at the same type of people in the comfort of their own homes. These shows are considered acceptable today because they are disguised as an inspirational, educational, or at the very least informative. Second, the participants in these shows are only paid a fraction of what the show earns. Therefore, it is just like the past when P. T. Barnum made millions off the “freaks” he showed and the “freaks” walked away with a lot less money. Next, I believe that shows like “Little Women: LA” give the whole community of little people a bad name. Audiences tend to make generalizations about their community as a whole based on the actions of a few people. Lastly, these programs cause the viewers to associate the participants as either a hero or victim. Some audience members view a person as a hero for putting themselves out there on television for everyone to see. They also might believe that they are making a difference for others with the same disabilities, deformities, or medical problems. Others are viewed as victims because some programs show how they are discriminated against or how difficult their lives are. This can make the audience members not only pity them but others who may be like them. The biggest negative that I see that still exists today is the fact that people who are different are being used as a source of