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History of the Victorian 'Corpse Show'
The tradition of showing corpses, in its modern form, has its origins in the Victorian freak shows starting with PT Barnum. The 150 year tradition usually has a charismatic figure pulling together a controversial exhibition that raises questions of taste or honesty.
The tradition has people as exhibits and is defended as being an accessible form of education. The exhibits, usually people (alive or dead), make very little money, traditionally they have been mentally incapacitated, fooled into signing up because of poverty or the charisma of the proprietor, or are not free to make a decision for themselves. Those running the shows traditionally made vast sums of money, using advertising and public outrage to generate interest and then asking the public to come and judge for themselves often using the educational argument as justification.
Many of these tactics and features are to be found in and around today's corpse shows.
In February 2004, the German Süddeutsche Zeitung confirmed earlier reports by the German TV station ARD that von Hagens had offered a one-time payment and a life-long pension to Alexander Sizonenko if he would agree to have his body transferred to the Institute for Plastination after his death. Sizonenko, reported to be one of the world's tallest men at 7'10" (2.39 m), formerly played basketball for the Soviet Union and is now plagued by numerous health problems. It is reported that he declined the offer.
As Brian Sewell, Art Critic said, "Von Hagens offers us the ultimate in freaks, the monster, the man-made mutant and deliberate deformity; he plays the circus barker, 'Roll up, roll up!' and we willingly pay £10 to experience a bout of nausea."
A bit of a circus
The first freak show involving a corpse was P.T. Barnum's Great Travelling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome. Attractions included the fat lady and, in 1842, the infamous corpse of the "Fejee Mermaid" exhibition. This was a preserved dried-out carcass. Barnum had created such a buzz with his publicity, that people became more intrigued.
Controversy arose again as scientist began to doubt the feasibility of the "mermaid." Barnum answered his critics with advertising. He asked the public in the ads to "decide for themselves". Once again, Barnum had proved himself a pure genius of advertising; although a hoax, Barnum's mermaid was the most talked about event of the year.
In England, Tom Norman, other wise known as the Silver King, was famous for his career of exhibiting people, including a brief time exhibiting John Merrick (The Elephant Man).
Freakshow link
Freakshow link
Freakshow managers
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