Valentine’s Day Love Story

 

The discussion today on Julia Pastrana brought up a lot of different opinions and topics about the way Julia was viewed in contrast to the way Sarah Baartman was view. I don’t believe that Julia was viewed as humanistic as Sarah was. Just on the way that she was described in the writing by Bondeson. I know that Julia was probably not happy being a side show “freak” however, compared to the writings on Sarah Baartman; Julia was viewed more as a person. The article talked about how Julia was talented, she would sing and dance. Julia was more humanized by the way the author talked about her talents instead of concentrate more on her body and her sexualized nature.

  To contradict myself I was looking at the different titles the two women had. Sarah’s title or “freak” name was Hottentots Venus vs. Julia’s: “Miss Julia Pastrana, the Nondescript.

In this context “nondescript” means “strange animals and monsters from beyond the seas.” In looking at the two women that way; Julia seems like she is more dehumanized and animalistic. Most associate Venus with a beautiful woman from the paintings and the term Nondescript sends messages of a person that has no real gender or identity that can be identified.

So I guess I am still a little confused and conflicted about who was less of an animal and who was more used for their bodies….Jury’s still out. 

-Sarah Fiorella