It seems to me that the current political correctness that looks down on freak shows and other flagrant celebrations of diversity is often just a cover to censure said diversity.

It’s a really great act! I’ve seen Insectavora, Heather Holliday, and Donny Vomit when I have gone to the show. It may not be Coney Island but it was fun. Check out the link.

Yup, that makes sense. My summers on the Jersey Shore (a phrase that I was never embarrassed to utter before that godawful show!) and visits to Coney Island are blurring together!

Lexie, have you seen the movie ‘Fur’? If you find men with hypertrichosis attractive, then you definitely need to see one portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr.!

I was surprised that The Enigma wasn’t on the list.

Hadassah–shame on you.

Tattoos and piercings are so common now that persons with them no longer qualify as “freaks.” We see them everywhere.

Advances in medicine have allowed the prevention of a large percentage of birth defects such as microencephaly, dwarfism, hypertrichosis, dipygus twins, etc. Many of them can now be headed off with the introduction of vitamins and medications at certain times during pregnancy. Our current knowledge of simple things like nutrition, sanitation, and lifestyle also contribute to the reduction of birth “defects.”

So what will future “freaks” be?

As for the Coney Island performers, it’s interesting that a lot of the top-billed acts these days aren’t freaks per se, but folks who render themselves different, but would otherwise earn mainstream approval. It’s kind of like the environment has been made more conventionally family-friendly. The values have certainly changed over time (freak shows were the family-friendly activity over a hundred years ago as well.)