RHETOR 109 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Groundskeeping, Tod Browning, Conjoined Twins
Document Summary
Pre code hollywood (before there existed a code) Golden age of hollywood (many ideal bodies) when freaks was made. Negative reception when released: found to be offended. Todd browning is neither an insider or outsider grew up in the circus, not disabled himself. Contemporarily argument to be made about the inclusion of poc, women and perhaps also disability communities humanize characters through this film. Scene of wedding party: theme of us and them (freaks induct cleo) Daisy and violet (conjoined twins) in reality were not treated properly in the entertainment industry (not paid money) One dimensional characters: no, a lot of character development would not have been possible because browning had to focus on the main plot line with the four main characters. We see the characters behind the scenes of the circus, not as audience members. A lot of confusion, perhaps identify with freida (sense of pity, soft lens used on her)
