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Human beings who suffer from obvious congenital deformities represent a form of monstrosity that is uncomfortable for us to confront on many levels (social, political, psychological, and even critical). This visceral discomfort is indicative of the taboos associated with mutations. The human monster or 'freak,' a result of genetic deviance, has existed for as long as the species itself has (ancient references to monstrosity occur in The Bible in 4 Ezra.5:
"There shall be a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be oft sent out again, and the wild beasts shall change their places, and menstruous women shall bring forth monsters."
Almost unnoticed, eugenics has progressed in a little more than a century from an aspiration to a reality: few children with genetic abnormalities are allowed to come to term in advanced countries.
Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy Jo-Jo The Dog-Faced Boy is perhaps one of the most famous of sideshow performers. He was born Fedor Jeftichew in St. Petersburg and toured with his father until the father passed away. He eventually got a contract with Barnum who made him a star. Barnum’s explained that a hunter in Kostroma, … Read more
Grace McDaniels, the Mule-Faced Woman Her face was monstrous enough to quickly earn popularity on the sideshow only by appearing on stage called the ugliest woman in the world. Despite her bizarre appearance, Grace was considered a warm and generous person and had a surprising number of suitors. She was married and had a physically … Read more
Quasimodo is a fictional character in the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) by Victor Hugo. Quasimodo was born with a hunchback and feared by the townspeople as a sort of monster. His name “Quasimodo” translates to “partially formed.” Due to accusations of rape, and his resulting life of seclusion, he appears scary and mysterious … Read more
Johnny Eck, born John Eckhardt, Jr. was born in 1911 without legs along with a normal twin brother, Rob. Despite the doctor’s fears that he wouldn’t survive the week, Johnny did live and was walking on his hands by his first birthday. He began making public appearances at age fourteen with traveling shows. He … Read more
They were perhaps the most famous of all congenital freaks to be displayed in America. Born in Siam in May 1811, discovered by Robert Hunter in 1824 and described scientifically by Prof. J.C. Warren at Harvard University in 1829, they were both natural and non-Western freaks, which made them particularly freakish in the eyes … Read more
Sara Baartman, the Hottentot Venus Baartman, born near the Great Fish River in 1789, was 21 when she left Cape Town for London in the company of an English ship’s surgeon. She was displayed in public shows throughout England, and became somewhat of a celebrity. Her genitalia, which, according to one authority, “were assumed to … Read more
The Scottish Brothers (1460–1488) were conjoined twins with trunks fused in a single lower extremity who shared common sensations (dicephalus type). They attended the Court of King James III and were skilled in music and foreign languages. They spoke and read several different languages. They were renowned for their singing grand duets – one would … Read more
Krao, the Darwin’s Missing Link (1876-1926) Born in Laos and suffering from hypertrichosia, she was first exhibited in 1880 in Europe when she was six years old. During this time the Origin of Species theory was a hot topic, and Barney turned her into intermediate creature that might prove Darwin’s theories. She was well-read and … Read more