Barnum and Ethnic Display
Publication Date
4-6-2018
Document Type
Poster
Department
Theatre and Dance
Mentor
Ann Haugo
Mentor Department
Theatre and Dance
Abstract
In a recent musical film The Greatest Showman, the life of P.T Barnum, the father of modern circus, is seen. This research will examine Barnum's representation of people of color historically, in what scholars call "ethnic display," including his relationship with these characters and how he affects their lives. In the film, Barnum makes use of people discriminated against by the society. He recruits a variety of "weird" characters that he makes complete use of. In the film, each character has something "special" to contribute and this adds to the spectacle of the show. Barnum makes these "freaks" or disabled or people of color feel they really belong to a world that they can contribute something to; he makes them feel special. However, the research will go further to compare the depiction of Barnum in the film with the known facts about Barnum's career, including his influence on the practice of ethnic display in his period. To effectively carry out this study, resources from the Circus and Allied Arts Collection will be utilized.
Recommended Citation
Gasarah, Msuur, "Barnum and Ethnic Display" (2018). University Research Symposium. 60.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/rsp_urs/60
Comments
Gasarah-graduate