Charles Stratton P. T. Barnum discovered Charles Stratton in 1842 at the age of four. Soon after, Barnum transformed Stratton into General Tom Thumb, one of the most significant freak show performers of all time. At an early age Stratton was trained to sing, dance, and imitate famous celebrities worldwide. As discussed in the lecture, under the guidance of Barnum, Tom Thumb performed around the world as well as at the American Museum, becoming the most famous dwarf of all time. P. T. Barnum was known for The American Museum and eventually exhibiting a number of “human curiosities” in the “What is It Exhibit.” Is this when Barnum crossed the line with turning entertainer to exploiter or during their three-year travels across Europe? In 1863,
…show more content…
As read in Linsfor, Saartjie was brought to London in 1810 after a deal fell through with a museum where she was put on display. Her anomalous body, from steatopygia, was in a cage for all of the British public to observe and even examine for themselves “… some of the spectators accepted this invitation by touching her rump and searching for evidence of padding or some other artifice beneath her skimpy, skin colored dress.” Unfortunately she lived in her cage traveling from festivals and fairs until her death in Paris in 1815.Saartjie’s body was dissected and was on display until 1982. (208-210) Saartjie is significant in our understanding of freakery because as discussed in class discussion and lecture, she started a trend of displaying other peoples from Africa. Especially within P.T. Barnum’s “What is it” exhibit and the world fairs soon to come. It also “provided “evidence” of the evolutionary inferiority of Africans and justified growing imperialist aims in the “dark continent.” But most importantly these freak shows inspired the vested interests of those in the United States who worked actively to deny freedom and human rights to black
As read in Linsfor, Saartjie was brought to London in 1810 after a deal fell through with a museum where she was put on display. Her anomalous body, from steatopygia, was in a cage for all of the British public to observe and even examine for themselves “… some of the spectators accepted this invitation by touching her rump and searching for evidence of padding or some other artifice beneath her skimpy, skin colored dress.” Unfortunately she lived in her cage traveling from festivals and fairs until her death in Paris in 1815.Saartjie’s body was dissected and was on display until 1982. (208-210) Saartjie is significant in our understanding of freakery because as discussed in class discussion and lecture, she started a trend of displaying other peoples from Africa. Especially within P.T. Barnum’s “What is it” exhibit and the world fairs soon to come. It also “provided “evidence” of the evolutionary inferiority of Africans and justified growing imperialist aims in the “dark continent.” But most importantly these freak shows inspired the vested interests of those in the United States who worked actively to deny freedom and human rights to black