In Their Own Words...
ZIP, THE "WHAT IS IT?"
Barnum's American Museum, 1860 Born in New Jersey, William Henry Johnson was said to represent the "missing link" between primates and humans as described in Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species, 1859. Europeans took credit for Zip's discovery and claimed that he was discovered down on all fours near the River Gambia and had to be taught how to stand up straight. Exhibited by the Barnum's American Museum and also in the traveling show, Zip was associated with names such as Wild Boy, Man Monkey, and the Missing Link. Zip's performance included him being dressed in a furry suit and displayed in a cage. His behavior consisted of him screaming wildly as he jumped and crawled about the cage. He was also instructed by a trainer during his act on how to eat properly and how to walk.
Maybe he would say: "My name is William Henry Johnson and I have microcephaly. This is a neurological disorder where the skull and brain do not develop normally. I never wanted to be apart of this life. I have very little knowledge of what this "life" even consists of."
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OTA BENGA
Monkey House of the Bronx Zoo, 1906 A Congolese "pygmy" who lived in the Chimpanzee cage and also the Monkey House of the Bronx Zoo in 1906. Benga was reduced to his "different" body parts, especially his teeth. He was thought to be a cannibal because of his large teeth. Audiences described Ota Benga's expressions and body language as being sad and lonely because he was unable to eat human flesh, his "native" food. Benga was exhibited at the zoo where he was grouped with orangutans. Bones were scattered throughout the cage to further symbolize cannibalism. He was instructed to run wildly throughout the cage and open his mouth widely to further display his large teeth.
Maybe he would say: "My name is Ota Benga. I am an orphan child who was brought into a life I did not want to be apart of. I'm different but I don't belong in a zoo. I'm not an animal. I'm just like them."
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KRAO FARINI
Aquarium at Westminster, 1887 Discovered in Laos in the 1880s by Carl Bock, Krao serves as another example of the "missing" link. First, displayed around the age of seven in London by G.A. Farini, Krao later was displayed in a dime museum in Philadelphia and also traveled with Barnum and Bailey. Even though Krao was not African, her Asian ethnicity was still ranked inferior to whites. Krao was advertised as "A Living Proof of Darwin's Theories of the Descent of Man."
Maybe she would say: "My name is Krao Farini and I have hypertrichosis. This is a disorder that causes excessive hair growth throughout the body. Despite what they think of me, I am very intelligent and fluent in at least seven different languages."
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JULIA PASTRANA
London, 1857 Julia Patrana became famous because of her "silky" black hair that covered most of her body as well as her beard. Unlike other "freaks" of her time, the interest of scientists fueled her "success" in her traveling act. She was advertised as a monstrous hybrid and also the "missing link". Even with her strong features, Pastrana was kind and womanly in nature. Managed by her husband, it is still unknown the exact relationship the two had, but when asked, Pastrana made it known that she yearned affection.
Maybe she would say: "My name is Julia Pastrana and I have a rare inherited disorder which manifested itself in facial distortion and considerable facial hair in the male pattern."
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SARA BAARTMAN
London, 1800s Sara Baartman was transported to London in 1810 with promise of good fortune in exchange for her service of being exhibited by Alexander Dunlap. Her "show" consisted of her being told to walk, stand, or sit as her keeper ordered. Spectators were allowed to poke and prod Baartman for an extra fee. Her display became very popular because her figure was something that was uncommon at the time and intrigued others. Her large buttocks and genitalia were the main "attraction" to spectators. Sara Baartman became the object of scientific investigation in Paris. Henry de Blainville described his purposes for observing Baartman as such: to provide a detailed comparison of this woman with the lowliest race of humans (the Negro) and the highest type of apes (the orangutan); and to provide the most complete possible description of the anomalies of her genitalia.
Maybe he would say: "My name is Sara Baartman. I was taken from my home in South Africa with the idea that I would be brought good fortune and not exploited. This mistreatment was not part of the deal."
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Scientific Alibi: An Excuse for Exploitation
When these individuals were put on display, science and research was used to justify the actions of those in power to exploit and mistreat them. Observation was deemed necessary in order to obtain "scientific" data to support the idea that each person symbolized some type of relationship to Darwin's theories in The Origin of Species. With the notion that some of these people were the "missing link" between humans and primates, the need for public exhibition became urgent. People of the Victorian era were intrigued by these individuals because they were "different" from the societal norms of their time; so intrigued in fact, that they paid their hard earned money just to view them.
The Main Attractions: Advertisements
With the "discovery" and exploitation of these various individuals, the need to expose them to the public was essential to the power dynamic between the Europeans and the "freaks". Advertisements were used to inform the public about the displaying of people like Krao and Sara Baartman. Usually, the advertisements contained information about the individual and where one could view them. Prices and pictures were also included on the posters. These advertisements could even be found in local newspapers. Because this exploitation became such a profitable situation, these individuals were used as products and the public were considered the consumers coming to have a look.
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History of the "Freak" Show
This clip highlights the the history of freak shows and all the work that is required of them. Certain "freaks" are highlighted and information is given about them as well. The importance of advertisements is also a focus of this video.
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Pictured above are a range of "freaks" from the Victorian era.
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1. Schiebinger L. "Theories of gender and race" from Nature's body: gender in the making of modern science, (Rutgers University Press, 2004) 2nd ed. pp. 143-172 [30 pages] ISBN: 9780813535319
2. Churcgill LB. "What is it? Difference, Darwin and the victorian freak show" from Darwin in Atlantic cultures: evolutionary visions of race, gender, and sexuality, (TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP LLC- BOOKS, 2010) pp. 129-142 [14 pages] ISBN: 97802038863336
3. Boetsch, Gilles, et al., ed. Human Zoos: The Invention of the Savage. Paris: Actes Sud, 2012.
2. Churcgill LB. "What is it? Difference, Darwin and the victorian freak show" from Darwin in Atlantic cultures: evolutionary visions of race, gender, and sexuality, (TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP LLC- BOOKS, 2010) pp. 129-142 [14 pages] ISBN: 97802038863336
3. Boetsch, Gilles, et al., ed. Human Zoos: The Invention of the Savage. Paris: Actes Sud, 2012.