From the Stage to the Big Screen
During the Darwinian/Victorian Era, people who were considered different than the "norm" were exploited and put on display for all to see. Nowadays, people different than the norm are still in the public eye but is it any different? There is much controversy as to whether or not reality television shows that follow the lives of people with various disabilities or abnormal human traits is exploitation or not. The media has given television shows or episodes on a series to people who have certain human oddities or disorders. For example, the network TLC has created multiple reality shows featuring families diagnosed with dwarfism. Some say the media is shedding light on their conditions and trying to "combat the ignorance." They are "finding great characters with unique perspectives who are at the same time extremely relatable." But others are not convinced.
Little People, Big World
TLC
The reality series follows the lives of the Roloff family. Parents Matt and Amy and one of their sons Zach were diagnosed with dwarfism. Their remaining three children are average height. Their TV show has been on air for seven seasons.
TLC
The reality series follows the lives of the Roloff family. Parents Matt and Amy and one of their sons Zach were diagnosed with dwarfism. Their remaining three children are average height. Their TV show has been on air for seven seasons.
"[Is] the fact that millions of Americans are tuning in each week to entertain themselves with shows centered around people of short stature just as disturbing as when people paid to see them in carnival shows that were outlawed decades ago?"
Hollie McKay-Fox News
Hollie McKay-Fox News
Abby & Brittany
TLC
Brittany and Abigail Hensen are diencephalic parapagus twins. The reality TV series followed their lives as they graduated college, traveled to Europe and got their first jobs. It was on air for one season.
TLC
Brittany and Abigail Hensen are diencephalic parapagus twins. The reality TV series followed their lives as they graduated college, traveled to Europe and got their first jobs. It was on air for one season.
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
NBC
The reality TV show, which first aired in 1949, featured people with unusual traits or deformities. The show explored strange occurrences, odd historical facts as well as artistic and social activities. It was on air for many decades.
NBC
The reality TV show, which first aired in 1949, featured people with unusual traits or deformities. The show explored strange occurrences, odd historical facts as well as artistic and social activities. It was on air for many decades.
Several decades ago, television shows such as "Abby & Brittany" and "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" that featured people with physical deformities or human oddities different than the norm were considered unethical. Today, these people have signed contracts with networks such as TLC and NBC to have their daily lives documented or simply to create a "wow" factor that will not only bring the networks millions of dollars but make the individuals some money as well. Have we moved to a time where it has become okay to televise and monopolize everything and anything that seems extraordinary or out of the norm? Theology and pop culture expert Mark Turner stated "People think it is okay to watch (little people) from their living room, but it’s wrong to stare at them intensely in public or put them in a freak show. But in essence it’s the same thing and crossing the line into voyeurism."
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The above clips are taken from the History Channel show entitled Stan Lee's Superhuman. On the left, Dickinson Oppson is known as the Human Hydrant because his stomach can hold more than four times the amount of liquid that an average human's stomach can hold. He also has the superhuman ability to jet all of that liquid back on command. On the right, Slavisa Pajkic can generate enough electrical current through his body to cook a sausage. Thus, he is known as the human generator.
We have moved from a time of people being forced against their will into the public's eye to be poked, prodded and ridiculed to a time where people are being rewarded to do things that are unnatural for the sake of entertainment. There has become a general theme that if one is extraordinary or extreme enough, a television series can or should be expected. So the question remains whether or not it should be considered exploitation since these people willingly go in the public eye. Who is exploiting who and why?
We have moved from a time of people being forced against their will into the public's eye to be poked, prodded and ridiculed to a time where people are being rewarded to do things that are unnatural for the sake of entertainment. There has become a general theme that if one is extraordinary or extreme enough, a television series can or should be expected. So the question remains whether or not it should be considered exploitation since these people willingly go in the public eye. Who is exploiting who and why?
Sources: Article, Videos and Links to Images
1. McKay, Hollie. "Is Learning Channel's 'Little People' Franchise 21st Century Exploitation of Dwarfism?" Published March 25, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/03/25/learning-channels-little-people-franchise-st-century-exploitation-dwarfism/
2. http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/videos/human-hydrant
3. http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/videos/human-generator?m=5189719baf036&s=All&f=1&free=false
4. https://www.google.com/search?q=little+people+big+world&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=PVqmUt6AHIaLqQHjl4DQAw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#q=little+people+big+world+promo&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=R4sp19C0YkndoM%3A%3BOWzhq32PXK745M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnetstorage.discovery.com%252Ffeeds%252Fbrightcove%252Fasset-stills%252Ftlc%252F138116292343411939648901197_LPBW_S9_PROMO.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.tlc.com%252Ftv-shows%252Flittle-people-big-world%252Fvideos%252Fthis-season-on-little-people-big-world.htm%3B640%3B360
5. https://www.google.com/search?q=ripley's+believe+it+or+not&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QmWmUuyZJYrqyQGJ_oD4DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=v7zv2mrXHrQlBM%3A%3BeeErnO-GmsImOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidepulse.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F01%252Fripleys-believe-it-or-not-museum.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidepulse.com%252F2011%252F01%252F13%252Fparamount-moving-forward-on-ripleys-believe-it-or-not-eric-roth-writing%252F%3B2592%3B1944
6. https://www.google.com/search?q=abby+and+brittany+promo&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bVumUsPYBIiArAHyuYDAAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Dv4FoPoj7AQceM%3A%3BgmSjJb7NgJweEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.heavy.com%252Fmedia%252F2012%252F08%252FUntitled-1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.heavy.com%252Fentertainment%252F2012%252F08%252Fconjoined-twins-with-2-heads-1-body-get-reality-show-on-tlc%252F%3B640%3B360
7. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2327844/
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_People,_Big_World
9. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083473/
1. McKay, Hollie. "Is Learning Channel's 'Little People' Franchise 21st Century Exploitation of Dwarfism?" Published March 25, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/03/25/learning-channels-little-people-franchise-st-century-exploitation-dwarfism/
2. http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/videos/human-hydrant
3. http://www.history.com/shows/stan-lees-superhumans/videos/human-generator?m=5189719baf036&s=All&f=1&free=false
4. https://www.google.com/search?q=little+people+big+world&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=PVqmUt6AHIaLqQHjl4DQAw&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#q=little+people+big+world+promo&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=R4sp19C0YkndoM%3A%3BOWzhq32PXK745M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnetstorage.discovery.com%252Ffeeds%252Fbrightcove%252Fasset-stills%252Ftlc%252F138116292343411939648901197_LPBW_S9_PROMO.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.tlc.com%252Ftv-shows%252Flittle-people-big-world%252Fvideos%252Fthis-season-on-little-people-big-world.htm%3B640%3B360
5. https://www.google.com/search?q=ripley's+believe+it+or+not&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QmWmUuyZJYrqyQGJ_oD4DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=v7zv2mrXHrQlBM%3A%3BeeErnO-GmsImOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidepulse.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F01%252Fripleys-believe-it-or-not-museum.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidepulse.com%252F2011%252F01%252F13%252Fparamount-moving-forward-on-ripleys-believe-it-or-not-eric-roth-writing%252F%3B2592%3B1944
6. https://www.google.com/search?q=abby+and+brittany+promo&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bVumUsPYBIiArAHyuYDAAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1363&bih=695#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=Dv4FoPoj7AQceM%3A%3BgmSjJb7NgJweEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.heavy.com%252Fmedia%252F2012%252F08%252FUntitled-1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.heavy.com%252Fentertainment%252F2012%252F08%252Fconjoined-twins-with-2-heads-1-body-get-reality-show-on-tlc%252F%3B640%3B360
7. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2327844/
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_People,_Big_World
9. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083473/