MetaFilter posts tagged with freaks and circus

The Human Marvels: Presenting Peculiar People

parudox — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:52:52 -0800

J. Tithonus Pednaud herein presents for your edification and enlightenment a curious collection of human marvels. You may call them oddities, freaks or monstrosities—whatever you will—but I call them incredible, persevering, resourceful and marvelous human beings. I chronicle their inspirational stories of triumph over nature, fate and the judgment of man. [Previously seen here. See also.]

Freaks

flug — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:30:22 -0800

Tod Browning's 1932 cinematic masterpiece Freaks tells the story of a close-knit group of circus sideshow workers who are wronged and take revenge. The film's use of real-life freaks so disturbed audiences that some ran screaming from theaters, distributors refused to handle the film, and it was banned in Britain for over 30 years. Audience feedback at preview screenings and changes demanded by censors meant that 30 minutes of "repulsive elements" in the original cut were removed or replaced. A lengthy text prologue was hastily added and at least three different endings were tried, none completely satisfactory. Even with these changes, all designed to minimize the grotesque and disturbing impact of the film, audiences of the day did not accept it. MGM finally withdrew it at a loss of some $164,000. Today, critics are more likely to praise the audacious aesthetic and philosophical lengths to which Browning goes to challenge the way we define beauty and abnormality or even parse it as a distorted symbol of the Hollywood studio system Browning worked under. Freaks was (loosely) based on the short story Spurs by Tod Robbins. Full movie: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (These Youtube links have noticeably better picture and sound quality than the Google Video version linked above; the Google Video version has the text prologue missing in Youtube version.) Notable excerpts: Prince Randian lights a cigarette with his lips - dancing in the forest - Schlitzie - wedding banquet - chase scene/trailer Miscellaneous: Analysis - documents and photos - review1 - review2 - Johnny Eck - Schlitzie - IMDB - posters - Zippy connection - previously

step right up

crunchland — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 11:15:29 -0800

LA-DEEEES AND GENTLEMEN! STEP RIGHT UP! THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! The Strange and Unusual, the Freaks of Nature, the Shocking and the Bizarre! YOU won't BELiEVE your EYES!

turaho — Mon, 04 Nov 2002 10:22:24 -0800

Freakshow In My Pocket is a collection of surreal animated matchbox dioramas (via The Excitement Machine)