Media, Performative Identity, and the New American Freak Show

By Jessica L. Williams

Book Overview

Explores the history of the freak show and how it was transformed through the emergence of media
Focuses on what changes in viewing mean, and why and how the viewer stares at freakish bodies through specific media including film, television, and live performance
Explores bodies which would have been considered freaks of nature--a person who was born with their physical anomaly or who obtained it through an accident, such as bearded ladies, people missing limbs, and conjoined twins--as well as cultural freaks--a person whose anomaly was obtained by choice, such as heavily tattooed and pierced people, sword swallowers, and other novelty acts
Raises questions about representation and authenticity in its exploration of mediated bodies across horror film to reality television, disability pornography to the mediatization of popular musicians' bodies
Analyzes the relationship between viewer and the figure of "the freak" to reveal the cultural organization of different bodies in contemporary society

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3319664611
• ISBN13: 9783319664613
• Release Date: October 2017
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.3"