Revenge

In Tod Browning's "Freaks," the circus performers use the negative stereotypes to their own advantage at the end of the story. Throughout the show, the "normal" people working at the circus separated themselves from the "freaks." They felt superior because they did not have some sort of disability, and therefore ridiculed and took advantage those who did. For example, Hun was taken advantage of by Venus because of his feelings for her. Because she was "normal sized," she felt that it was okay to play with Hun's emotions in order to get his inheritance. At the end of the story, her treatment of the disabled comes back to haunt her when she is turned into a chicken by all of the people she used to ridicule. The disabled circus performers used the negative stereotypes of Venus in order to scare her before turning her into a chicken. They accepted the things that made them different, and used these differences to their own advantage in order to get revenge.
cailee-11

Offend One, Offend them All

In the movie Freaks, there were many points in the movie where the "freaks" were insulted. When this was done, the rest of the freaks there were offended and upset about it as well. This is because if one person is humorous because they are different, then anyone who is different will feel as if they are being directed as well. Many people don't actually consider what the consequences of the things they say will be. For example when they say "don't get her started, he'll punch you in the nose" to the male/female combination.
Saying this led to his/her feelings being hurt and her feeling like an outcast. Things like this are devastating truth bringers, because even the freaks make fun of and mess with the other freaks. One example being when the Siamese female twins were arguing with one of their significant other who had a stuttering problem and as he stuttered they told him to spit it out already or something to that extent. This goes to show that even disabled people sometimes poke fun, but dont realize how much damage their statement actually may do.
-Derek Guarino

Modern Day Freakshows?

Eli Clare brings up an important point about the treatment of the disabled by medical professionals. Instead of a one on one, personal meeting with a doctor, those with disabilities are put in front of large groups of people in order to be studied by medical students. It is almost as though those with disabilities are put on display as "freaks" were put on display in circuses and freakshows in the past. However, the main difference between the disabled being presented for medical students and the freak shows of the past is the purpose. Today, the purpose of a large group of students studying one disabled person is for education, so the students can learn about the disabled in hopes of becoming a better doctor. In the past, those with disabilities were put on display for others' entertainment. Because of this different, I think there needs to be more understanding from medical professionals as well as the disabled.

Medical professionals and students need to think about the feelings of the disabled when they are being presented in front of large groups. They need to understand that in a sense, they are gawking at the disabled as people gawked at freaks in the past. However, the disabled need to be more understanding that the intentions of the students and doctors are essentially good. They are not being gawked at because it is entertaining for others, but rather to educate others about disabilities and improve the lives of those that are disabled. It is for the benefit of the disabled as well as the students to be studied, because the ultimate goal is a better life for those that are living with a disability. Because of this, there needs to be a compromise. Rather than displaying a disabled person for hundreds to look at, there should be a much more personal approach. For example, maybe one or two medical students will sit in on a disabled person's visit to the doctor. This way the students can observe and learn both about the person with the disability, as well as how they should interact on a more personal level.
-cailee 10

Eli Clare and Stones

Several times throughout the article Eli talks about how his body was stolen or taken from him. He mentions that he was raped several times by his father and that his mother stated she never knew. By addressing his sexual abuse and neglect, he connects this to his homosexuality and trans-gender identity.

However, one of the passages in the story makes me debate whether Clare really does attribute the abuse to him becoming a transgenders person.

“How did his gendered abuse reinforce my sense of not being a girl? How did his non-abusive treatment of me as an almost son interact with the ways in which fists and penis and knives told me in no uncertain terms that I was a girl? ... and later “How did my mother’s willful ignorance of the hurt he inflicted on me influence what I absorbed about femininity and masculinity?” (126)

Clare states that he does not know and will never be sure if the abuse or neglect he was exposed to in life caused him to be transgender or homosexual. (Shawn Parkhurst, 20)

right vs. wrong

Just wanted to continue on my last blog and answer some of the questions posted. First the question about considering the public stripping of the children. I kind of look at it this way when I have a doctor look at me I don't consider it public. Aren't we supposed to have patient doctor confidentiality? I don't think that would change by the amount of doctors who view the child its still confidential. While this may effect a child physically and/or emotionally what about the million of children it will save? It may sound crude but you have to look at the risk reward factor. Possibly hurting one child may be worth the amount of children it could save. Also it is not the doctor who can take on how this will effect the child. The child's guardian has a right to say no. That part should be put on their shoulders.

Lastly who would this benefit? Does it benefit the child? I would say yes all those doctors discussing one child the more thoughts and ideas the better. Will it benefit the medical profession? Why sure it's cost affective and unfortunately in the state we live in that has to be a factor. So does time with the amount of time some children are given to live with disabilities the more help the better. Unfortunately this whole idea is not pretty, but getting over the political correctness of somethings is the best way to help people. I just think this maybe one of those occasions. Thomas Moss (post 15)

Freaks? Or Just Different?

I do not believe that Browning meant to portray the freaks as objects of interest. Naturally, they are going to attract attention, not all of it positive, because they look so different from the typical person, and they are not usually seen an everyday person’s everyday lift. In fact, it seems that he does just the opposite of portraying them as “freaks”. If he truly wanted to show them as being “freaks,” I believe that Browning would have shown the acts that they performed for the circus. He does not do this, in order to keep the film from becoming another platform on which to prove their “freakiness”.

I think that Browning successfully allowed his viewers to see the “freaks” as people. We got to know each character and what their personalities were like, which were not freaky or different in any special way. They seemed like regular people that just had different bodies. They had their own family, and they all fit in and served a purpose to that family, just like normal people have certain roles and purposes in their own societies. I also think that Browning effectively portrayed how the circus people react when their family is threatened. They had absolutely no problem accepting Cleopatra and Hercules into their family. They wanted to include them, as equals in their “circus people” family. They showed this at the wedding feast.

It was only when Cleo and Hercules began showing threatening behavior to members of the family that the other members began to react and treat them accordingly. When they did begin threatening bodily harm to Cleo and Hercules, it was with switchblades and guns, probably two of the most common weapons for everyday people to have. If Browning had truly wanted to play into the “freakiness” of his characters, I think he would have had the circus people act in completely unexpected ways. He would have really gone to the extremes and possibly pulled stereotypical fears of physically deformed people like having them have particularly gruesome ways of killing people. Instead, he gave them two very common weapons. They did end up turning Cleo into a chicken-woman. I think that was justified, and just a play on her being terrified and prejudiced against the circus people, effectively turning her into a freak, so she could experience how she had treated them from the other side.

(Sarah Jaworowicz, Post 20)

From Beginning to End

In the beginning of the movie "Freaks" the circus people were being shown as how they were different and how they were viewed upon by other people. When the family of "freaks" was out in the woods dancing around and having fun 2 men walked by and yelled at them. Since they were acting so foolishly they could possibly be seen as children. The woman said they were her children and the men said they weren't children they were monsters and he felt bad so he kept letting them play. They were shown this way on purpose even Han was shown as a child by the way he fell for Cleopatra so easily. He acted in a way that a child would have acted when he saw a toy or something he wanted really bad and would do anything for it. He ignored what people said about him and Cleopatra whether or not they were right.
In the end of the movie the "freaks" were also shown as being freaks but in their own way. When the second part of the movie started with the family accepting Cleopatra into their family it was showing her as being the "freak." Most people would see her as being the normal one but since they were the freaks and she was normal she was a freak to them. When Cleopatra poisoned Han the family acted like the mob and attacked her and Hercules. When thinking about the family attacking them it almost seems like the childest side is still coming out. The reason it seems this way is because I feel like they could have called the cops as Venus wanted to do, instead they went the easiest way out and killing Hercules and turning Cleopatra into a chicken woman.
Kevin Ostempowski Post 2

Freaks

In the movie Freaks by Tod Browning we viewed the behind the scenes lives of the circus performers and were taken through emotional struggles, relationships, greed and controversy all throughout the film. At the end of class we were handed a sheet with questions on it relating to the film. I will be responding to question 6.
I do think the freaks changed throughout the movie, as we watched and were introduced to the characters we began to learn more and more about their individual characters. Even though they all had physical and mental deformities they soon became more human, or normal to us as viewers we began to relate more to them once we were able to see they experienced emotions and struggles just like we do, and we began to feel emotions towards and about them. As we learned more about them they became more friendly and we soon began to see the characters true colors. As the film went on we saw the freaks change at the end going from friendly to down right dirty at the end of the film killing one performer and seriously mangling another. I do not think the film reinforces the notion that individuals with deformities are outcasts, since throughout the film it allowed us to become closer to the characters and begin to forget more about their disabilities.

Cali Simmons (Post 12)

Abuse and Sexuality

When Eli talks about when she was abused as a child by her father it brought out the topic she wrote in this chapter. She said that abuse is caused by the sexuality of a child. What is so important about this statement is that usually a person would say that sexuality is caused by abuse. Such abuse that a child would normally endure that is thought to lead a child in their future to possibly change their sexuality would be rape. As shown by Eli it could be the complete opposite way around. She believes that the reason children have to deal with abuse is because of their sexuality. For example, she was abused by her father to push her back to acting feminen. He would rape her to show her how she should act normally.
Another important part in this specific section was when Eli writes about how she asked her mother if she was feminen. This seems important for a few reasons one of which it stops her growth as a female in a way. Her mother didn't remember her response to the question. Therefore could not help with her growing up and not being raped by her father and acting like a normal girl. Another possible reason in my mind atleast for this to be such a key factor is because of the fact that she always saw her sister putting make up on and other things like that. Eli could have possibly seen that as being wrong and the way she acted being normal.
Kevin Ostempowski Post 1

Freaks

We watched the movie Freaks in class on Wednesday, one thing really stuck out to me. I thought the treatment of these people was horrible. They made them live in almost like a colony with all of the other "Freaks," to me this is worse than the treatment of Rachel in the book "The Girl who Fell From the Sky."
These people are no different inside than you and I but they are treated horribly wrong. There "owner" makes a profit off of people to come and watch a circus involving these "freaks." To me this is way worse than the verbal torment that Rachel received in her story.
Anthony DiChristopher
post 16

Eli Clare

In class we were shown a photo of Eli Clare, one common question that arose was is Eli Clare a man or a women. The photo was of Eli Clare in the woods kneeling down next to a very big tree. The photo shows Eli Clare being very cut and defined in the areas where muscle is present.
She was born a female but had an aspiration to be a male at a very young age. She then started dressing and acting like a man. The question now is present, is Eli Clare a man or a woman?
Anthony DiChristopher
post 15

Who exactly are the Freaks?

Tod Browning's movie called, "Freaks" made you think a lot into who really was the Freaks. The movie casted people you would not see everyday, and then there was two "normal" people. By "normal" I mean humans you would see everyday.

With Browning being a formal circus performer himself, I think he also has something "freakish" about him. I think the freaks were the "normal" people. Yes, the normal people thought the people with disabilities were freaks, but the "normal" people were freaks to the people with disabilities. I think Browning was referring to the "normal" people as freaks. (Nicole Butzke, Post 21)

Eli Clare

The photo that was shown in class made many people question if Eli Clare is a girl or a guy. The photo displays a human in the woods, with red hair on the ground and a shirt. The human was very defined. The question is asked Is Eli a woman or a man? I think she is a woman trying to seek the view of a man.

I believe this because maybe she feels like men have more power then women through writing. Many women writers were not successful back then. Her beliefs are unclear through her writing style though. The picture I think shows how she longs to be a man, and she will change herself to that level, by doing anything. (Nicole Butzke, Post 20)

Freeks Are People Too

The movie "Freeks" was very interesting to watch. It looked at the behind the scenes of a circus to find out what the performers are really like. They were very upbeat and energized but not all of them got along. When Cleopatra and Hercules were tricking Hans into thinking that Cleopatra and him were gonna get married, the rest of the performers got there revenge and put an end to Hercules and Cleopatra for good. It was interesting to see all the different characters with different appearances and abilities come together to form a bond to take Hercules and Cleopatra down. It showed the behind the scenes action because people can be decieving fwhen they are onstage to when they go backstage. We saw this here how Cleopatra was a fake and Hercules was a scam artist.

When Hans was lonely, Rita was his only friend. She looked out for him and stuck up for him and cared for him. She loved him more than anybody else. Those were the last words in the movie. I think this is giving the message of not to look past the people that care about you for something that was never even there in the first place. This is how it started out in the beginning to when Rita and Han were talking about their engagement. The story revolved around Han and his desire for love but did not find it because he was looking in the wrong spots. When he spent his fortune on the house he had purchased, it showed that he felt a little better about himself and was not wasting his time on people that never cared for him. (Mason Roessler Post 18)

Eli Claire- Person of Nature

As we viewed the photo of Eli Claire, we gathere some assumptions of the message he was rtying to convey. Since he had a sex changed, the characteristics of him made him that more unusual. He had a tree going through his shirt which stood for him bein one with nature. He also had features a man but also of a woman too. His book exile and pride describes him exactly. He was exhiled from society because he did not know hwere to fit in but he still took pride in himself for not being down by what other people thought of him. He was one that took pride in him writing and that is why he is such a greater writer.

Eli Claire can be labeled as a freak. This is not saying that he is a freak and should be bannished from society. It is saying that he is a freak where he had a sex change which made him different which caused him to act differently which is where the term freak comes in. Being a freak can be looked at two ways. It can be seen as a person who is abnormal and seen in society as weird and an outcast. It also can be seen as a person who is different but has a very unique ability which is labeled as a freak as being not human but in a good way where it would be impossible to out beat him. Eli Claire is a freak in a way where he is different, but has a unique ability to write just like anybody else and have a passion for it too. (Mason Roessler Post 17)

Who is the real Freak?

Throughout the year we have been bale to make a connection with all of the works and I feel that the movie "Freaks" is no different. We have to realize what the author or director is trying to convey and question who the real outcast is. I think a lot of the literary works that we have read have also questioned the layout of our society and how we treat people. Ted Browning does this in great extent in the movie Freaks. Although society may of looked at the people in the film as being social outcast or insulting and disgusting to look at, they were actually the good people in the film.

The people that we may have seen as normal (Hercules and Cleopatra) are actually the real outcasts. They reject the circus family or what could be viewed as society. Because of their disrespect to people that they find inferior they end up being subjected to either desk or an even worse fate of the ones that they called "Freaks." I think what Browning was really trying to suggest that our true being is not judged by the way that we look on the outside, but the character and attitude that we display which comes from the heart. (Shawn Parkhurst, 19)

Blog Prompts: Browning's Freaks

Hi everyone,

If you are stumped as to what to blog about this week consider responding to one of the discussion questions I passed out in class on Freaks. I will re-post them below for your reference.

1. Browning (a former circus performer himself) never represents his characters’ actual performances within Madame Tetrallini’s circus, but rather chooses to depict their lives behind the scenes. Why do you think this is?
2. Why is it that the freaks are viewed as children or as child-like? How do they challenge this view within the film?
3. How is sexuality represented in the film? In what ways do freaks trouble traditional sexuality?
4. Are women depicted in a positive light within the film? Give a few examples.
5. Is Browning’s film problematic in that he depicts the freaks as objects of interest, fascination, and visual curiosity, or does he ultimately allow his viewers to achieve a more sympathetic understanding of them?
6. How do the freaks change throughout the film? Does the film reinforce the notion that individuals with disabilities are outcasts and to be feared?
7. Did the film at all make you uncomfortable? If so, why?

Or you may want to analyze the above image that was used to advertise the film.

Best,
--Jeff

Stones

“I turn my pockets and heart inside out, set the stones—quartz, obsidian, shale, agate, scoria, granite—along the scourged top of the wall I once lived behind, the wall I still use for refuge. They shine in the sun, some translucent to the light, others dense, solid, opaque. I lean my body into the big unbreakable expanse, tracing which stones need to melt, which will crack wide, geode to crystal, and which are content just as they are” (Clare, 134-135).

I think this is my favorite part of any of Clare’s work that we’ve read. It sums up her writing in a beautiful way. I love the imagery of placing her stones on her wall that she built to protect herself as she was growing up. Building a wall around one’s personal self is a thing we all do. There are certain things that we don’t want people to know, fearing that if they knew, they would like us less, if they are “friends,” or mock us for, if they are “enemies”.

Placing stones on a wall or other kind of monument is an act of remembrance. Clare is placing her stones on her wall of protection, remembering each one of these experiences that shaped her life, that made her want to hide behind that wall. There are several different kinds of stones in her heart and pockets, just like she has different kinds of experiences and memories. Each one of these experiences was important in shaping who she is today. She has overcome so much, just by growing up, learning, meeting new people, and perhaps through the act of writing about them, showing the world who she is, and how these experiences shaped her.

The act of deciding which stones need to “melt” is important in life. I don’t think that the experiences represented by these stones ever really go away, but Clare is acknowledging the effect that these stones have had on her life, but she knows that she doesn’t need or want to carry them around with her anymore. She knows how they have shaped her life, but she doesn’t need to constantly remember them or the effect they has on her anymore. She is letting them go.

The stones that will “crack wide, geode to crystal” are the experiences that had such a profound effect on her and her life that she will never be able to not carry them around with her. They started off as just ugly stones, experiences that were not pleasant in the time they occurred or the time soon after. But as time went on, Clare realized that these experiences had the most beautifully profound effect on her and her life. They cracked open, and revealed beautifully colored crystals just below the ugly stone surface. She had to carry them around for a while before she learned of the true beauty of their lesson.

And of course there are those stones that are “content just as they are”. These stones are either good memories of life and its lessons, or the ones that haven’t yet explained why they are important. They deserve their time in our hearts and pockets just as much as the other kinds of stones. They have their purpose, or we will soon learn of what they mean.

We all have all of these kinds of stones. The important thing to remember is that every stone we pick up in life is somehow important in shaping us as adults. Whether we know their purpose now or in the future, each experience happened for a reason, and each experience deserves a spot on our wall of protection, to remember each one, and give it its due respect.

(Sarah Jaworowicz, Post 19)

Looking Beyond the Skin

The movie "Freaks" gives a wide view of emotion and actions people may or may not do throughtout their life. I liked how he portraited them outside there physical deformities or disabilities. He makes the viewer look pass their physical straits and look more at the characters of the actors themselves. Which makes you lead to the conclusion that the real freak was Cleopatra. The freaks of the movie loved, hated, cried, laughed, and many others. This is nothing more than what we do our selves. So where is the freak? Most movies the freak is the one who is corrupt and murderous, unkind, deceptive, etc. But couldn't this exist in all of us. Tod I think breaks those boundaries by showing them all doing different every day stuff and going through the same problems we all do. So I think Tod is conveying a message look beyond the skin and find out who they really are. Something so many still have a hard time doing today.

Confusion

In Eli Clares "Stones' in my Pockets, Stones in my Heart" I see a very confused little girl. This piece for me, brought a lot of unanswered questions. In regards to her gender view which I guess on her web site is he, it is very hard to separate her early life from her life today. It is hard to believe that her early life didn't shape her decisions today. For example, the events of her father dressing her like boy and do what is typically what people call manly duties. If the child is already confused of ones gender this would have a signifieant impact over time. Similar to children who watch wrestling over time start acting out what the see. Another event was the painting at the carnival, when the painter thought she was a boy. Though she give the impression she was leading towards that thought at the time, she still an encouraging event. And also through out her piece she seem unsure her self of how she got where she is now. But I think that a confusion question for us all, How we got where we are?

The freaks definitely had a dramatic change from beginning to end. In the beginning the freaks were portrayed as almost normal human beings. The "child-like" freaks played in the wooded area and were having a lot of fun. This is an activity that most children do. When you get a group of children together they sing and dance around, laughing. In this notion the "freaks" are normal. Then we are brought to the circus environment and where they live. Again they are portrayed as normal. They live as a community and have different romances throughout. The girls that are attached together find "love" and even Hans and Frieda have a romance that actually finds a conflict like some normal romances do.

As the movie progresses it continues to portray the characters as normal human beings. When we get to the second part after the wedding is when the changes occur. At the wedding dinner Cleopatra poisons Hans because Frieda told her about his fortune. Cleopatra becomes intoxicated and starts making fun of the freaks just as they are welcoming into being one of them. Hans is very upset about this. After the dinner the freaks all come together to find refenge onto Cleopatra and Hercules. All the freaks turn into "monster-like" creatures in order to refenge Cleopatra for what she has done to Hans. As they attack her and Hercules you see the animal like behaviors come out. UNfortunately, refenge is a normal human being action and sometimes we do act like animals when we want refenge but the movie portrays more aggressive monster-like actions.
(Kelcey Summers 19)

The Real "Freak"

Tod Browning's "Freaks" is very interesting so far in the story. The "freaks" as they are refered to are simply just circus performers. Many of them do have certain deformities that would set them apart from the rest of society, but does that really make them freaks? They still have thoughts and feelings just like each and everyone of us, but still they are treated as though they are not even human at all. This, of course, is really sad and unfair, and can really make one think what it would feel like to be in a position similar to the circus performers. How would you be able to convey your personhood to the rest of society if society will not even give you a chance? This is basically how Hans is treated by Cleopatra. Cleopatra is not deformed like a majority of the circus troop and she uses her beauty to seduce Hans into falling in love with her. This is wrong and she is just using him to get to his fortune. This is no different than how society treats people who they feel are lesser or on a lower level than everyone else. Society can take advantage of those of lesser value and make them feel completely worthless. Cleopatra comes across as being dominant over the rest of the circus and does not seem to care at all for any of them.

The freaks in the movie are treated more like passive children than actually adults. Hans is a perfect example of this claim, because although he is an adult man, he looks more like a small child. He dismissed by some of the other circus performers because of his appearance, which is sad to watch, because he wants to be treated like every other adult. Cleopatra does no justice by pretending to love him and playing with his emotions. She is the real freak in this movie, because she does not have a heart at all, and finds pure enjoyment in destroying someone else's life. She only cares about herself and only sees herself as being the perfect image, when in fact she is more disfigured that any of the other circus performers. This will most likely have an impact later in the movie as she is about to marry Hans as some of the freaks are beginning to catch on to her plan.
(David Roberts, Post 20)

Identity

"Stones' in My Pocket, Stones in My Heart" was very interesting, because it helped me to see how Eli Clare was treated throughout most of his life. I refer to Eli Clare as a man, because this is how he has wanted society to view him all along. A person does not have to be constituted by the body he/she was born with, but rather what makes him/her happy. We should not just be referenced as a category of boy or girl, because we as individuals are so much more than just a category to be placed into. Eli Clare was trying to convey this message to society, because we are so naive in our understandings that we have cannot even fathom a person who does not fall in a certain category. Clare was open to discovery and tried to find his place in this world, and it took several tries even refering himself as a dyke. Clare had enjoyed being called a boy when he was younger, but he was still lost because technically he is actually a woman by medical terms. However, Clare seems confident now about being a man, and it really is about being happy where you are in life. Clare did not feel comfortable when he was younger and sought to change the society's perspective on him by declaring himself as a man.

Although Clare is a successful person now, he had to endure much pain and hardships while growing up. There was one certain scenario that I found odd at first, but perhaps the purpose of this certain scenario was to compensate for something else. This, of course, is when Clare was raped by his father when he was younger. The father could have done this to prove his dominance over Clare, who was beginning to portray himself as a man. The father could have wanted to show Clare what it means to be a man, although to rape Clare was an extreme method to go by. However, if the father had wanted to show Clare who he really was, then why did he treat him as a son for so many years? Maybe, the father wanted to show what the life of a man was like in hopes that Clare would not be satisfied, however, Clare had loved working with his father and doing the hard labor each day. Clare was free to feel and do what he wanted to do, and by doing so would eventually set him free.
(David Roberts, Post 19)

Consent...right or wrong?

I was reading Derek's post about consent and he makes a valid point. Sometimes the laws that are there to protect us as individuals may actually take away some of our rights. I, obviously, understand why children under 18 can not make choices for themselves but at the same time shouldn't parents ask their children what they think. In order to learn and understand what decisions are the right or wrong ones to make we have to have experience making decisions first. There are so many parents out there that either don't care at all or care way to much and in turn shelter their children. In order for a child to know what is right or wrong they need to be taught. If there parents don't care about what is going on in their lives then the child may experience things that they really shouldn't be at a young age.

On the flip side if a child has an overprotective parent then they risk the chance to learn important failures in life. If a parents protects their child from ever failing at something how do you learn to be a better person? Again if a parent makes all the decisions for a child while they are growing up what makes them think they can make decisions when they get older. They will be afraid to make decisions because their parents are there to do it for them.
(Kelcey Summers 18)