The Freak Culture In The 19th Century

Freak shows, also known as sideshows, were a form of entertainment as early as the 16th century, but did not become commonplace until the late 18th century and early 19th century. As places in England and the United States became more industrialized, the popularity of the display of human oddities and curiosities increased. As sideshows died down in the late 19th century due to ethical issues, many believed that they were a thing of the past. While people no longer go see freaks within the confined boundaries of the freak show, the discourse surrounding ‘freaks’ and ‘freak culture’ still exists. We still continue to have the same fascination with those with bodily differences. The structure of the freak show has carried on to the 21st century in the form of reality television and other forms of entertainment. The separation of normative and non-normative bodies, and the notion of

Once discussed as objects of exoticism, empathy, and fear, the discourse about freaks in contemporary society remains the same, but we now have different spaces in which freak culture is discussed in. Examples of this include the Jim Rose Circus Sideshows. The Jim Rose Sideshows involved daring stunts that commends freakishness for being fascinating and unique. Contemporary forms of freak discourse also include various forms of popular culture, such as the television shows on The Learning Channel and shows focusing on body modifications and