Cirque Du Freak - Lesson 3 - Research Tasks

The purpose of a freak show was to provide entertainment by exhibiting people with physical, mental or behavioural rarities. These shows often featured individuals with unique and unusual characteristics, presenting them as 'freaks' to an audience that paid to witness something out of the ordinary. The intention was to amaze, intrigue, and sometimes shock, with the displays typically lacking in sensitivity towards the individuals being showcased.

Freak shows first became a popular form of entertainment during the Victorian era, which was a time of curiosity and fascination with the unusual and the exotic. An example of a 'freak' who might have been featured in such a show is the bearded lady, a woman who exhibited the traditionally male characteristic of facial hair. In contemporary society, the perception of freak shows has dramatically shifted; they are widely regarded as exploitative and insensitive, with a recognition of the dignity and rights of all individuals regardless of their physical appearance or abilities. The decline of freak shows began in the early 20th century, with the practice largely ending by the 1950s, as attitudes towards human exhibition changed and it became socially unacceptable.