Freaks (1934) was a controversial film that gained a cult following some years after it was originally released. There is an obvious fascination in this film with a counter culture of people that are different than you and I, and this fascination is something that is still in our contemporary culture as evidenced by shows like My Strange Addiction and films like Safety Not Guaranteed. To some extent, viewers' curiosity hinges on their disgust and their pity for those they see to be less fortunate than themselves. I think this movie could be both an advocate for equality and a cruel example of the differences between us. History has shown a severe intolerance for diversity and tends to lack compassion, though the "freaks" in this film were not shown as less fortunate or incompetent in any way. On the contrary there are many moments when the freaks are given more power and commendable qualities than the beautiful trapeze artist. From the beginning Hans is a character that is all too familiar in stories; the man that superficially falls in love with the bombshell gold digger. This is a relatable human emotion (love, vulnerability, recklessness) that was given to the "dwarf" instead of the "brute" in the story. There is also a genuine friendship between Venus and Frieda despite their differences. There is a moment where the two characters are chatting about Frieda's relationship with Hans, a completely normal conversation that has taken place in almost every single film ever made that can't pass the Bechdel Test (most movies). This sense of normalcy flows throughout the film. Although, there are moments that are quite concerning when it comes to the topic of equality by a contemporary critic, I think the film airs mostly on the tolerant side of the conversation.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Freaks
Freaks (1934) was a controversial film that gained a cult following some years after it was originally released. There is an obvious fascination in this film with a counter culture of people that are different than you and I, and this fascination is something that is still in our contemporary culture as evidenced by shows like My Strange Addiction and films like Safety Not Guaranteed. To some extent, viewers' curiosity hinges on their disgust and their pity for those they see to be less fortunate than themselves. I think this movie could be both an advocate for equality and a cruel example of the differences between us. History has shown a severe intolerance for diversity and tends to lack compassion, though the "freaks" in this film were not shown as less fortunate or incompetent in any way. On the contrary there are many moments when the freaks are given more power and commendable qualities than the beautiful trapeze artist. From the beginning Hans is a character that is all too familiar in stories; the man that superficially falls in love with the bombshell gold digger. This is a relatable human emotion (love, vulnerability, recklessness) that was given to the "dwarf" instead of the "brute" in the story. There is also a genuine friendship between Venus and Frieda despite their differences. There is a moment where the two characters are chatting about Frieda's relationship with Hans, a completely normal conversation that has taken place in almost every single film ever made that can't pass the Bechdel Test (most movies). This sense of normalcy flows throughout the film. Although, there are moments that are quite concerning when it comes to the topic of equality by a contemporary critic, I think the film airs mostly on the tolerant side of the conversation.
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