We all grew up with knowledge of the circus, whether that originated in watching Disney’s film Dumbo, or simply going to a good old-fashioned circus performance. But there might be more you don't know about this spectacular spectacle.
Performer-Audience Synergy
Historically, the circus has been known as a spectacle—people speechlessly watch animals, humans, or both perform impossibly daring acts for the audiences’ amusement. Before the revolutionary era, the circus did not have a name; it had no identity and no home in society. There were "individual clowns, animal trainers, jugglers, and acrobats who wandered from town to town, demonstrating their talents in theaters and tavern yards and on street corners” (Davis 15). This demonstrates that the traveling quality of the circus has been a part of it since its most primitive roots. The people of the circus have long tried to communicate unique values and qualities through their talents and creativity. Throughout this website, it will be evident that the performances that exist within each circus community are the most powerful genre that is employed to communicate with society.
Beginnings as a Spectacle
P.T. Barnum’s American Museum, which eventually transformed into what we now know as the circus, began as a freak show, distorted the audience’s perception of a “normal human”, such as the famous bearded lady (Winkiel 3-4). The concept that the circus serves as a spectacle has remained a universally identifiable aspect of the circus. The circus audience “presents the amazing, the ‘impossible’, the dazzling and the daring. Its acrobats, clowns, magicians, jugglers and trained animals in the ring are set apart from the spectating public…” (Ferguson 1). It is important to note that, as its earliest days of being a "freak show", or a raw demonstration of talent and uniqueness, the performers coped with the reality of being a spectacle. The people would put themselves on display as "freaks" and "distortions of normalcy." This evolved into what we know as the circus today, which is more of a showcase of unique talent. Today, this spectacle is praised rather than speechlessly gawked at. Audiences in today's circus applaud circus performers and become excited and supportive as they enter the ring. In this case, the genre of performing has evolved, and as a response, the audience's reaction to these performances has evolved positively.
What's that called?
With the discussion of the incredible ‘spectacle’ that is the circus, what are these individual acts that make the circus so extraordinary? According to the renowned Hovey Burgess System, there are three different classifications of circus techniques: juggling, equilibrium, and vaulting (Burgess 3-4). Burgess recorded that these three categories each have varying levels of difficulty as well. This table, created by Burgess, notes each technique and how they become more complicated as they are performed in the circus (Burgess 5).
Countless combinations of these techniques and many other attractions combine to craft the magical circus performance we all know and love.
The FSU Flying High Circus utilizes all of these different techniques and incorporates them into their performances. Since the FSU Flying High Circus does not use any animals in the making of their shows, this blog will not go into depth into the current events or history behind using animals in circus shows.
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