I just came across this rather interesting little bbc article on how people with disabilities are reclaiming the old Victorian idea of the freak show. A group of disabled performers in bristol called Cirque Bijou have come together to perform, showing off their bodies and the differences they have. The pivotal point is, this is something they have chosen to do. Whereas in the past so-called freaks were forced to perform for another person’s profit, these performers have reclaimed the freak role and made it their own; they have reclaimed their bodies. Just as I ironically use the word ‘cripple’ in the title of my blog, they have taken control over what was once a form of severe oppression. From what I hear, performers in the old victorian circuses were quite literally slaves; now, by reclaiming both their bodies and the language used to describe them, the performers – the freaks – have become the masters. Moreover, displaying their bodies in such a way demystifies them, so hopefully this circus would help to remove some of the fear surrounding disability too. It shifts the focus from ghoulish voyeurism to one of admiration. Thus I think this is a great idea, and I wish them well.