Wax Celebs are the Ideal

What is our obsession with preserving “freaks?” Yes, we may have wax celebs, but that certainly varies dramatically from the reason and the way in which we preserve “freaks” such as Elephant Man, Sarah Bartmann, and Julia Pastrana. We have preserved “freaks” by making castings of their bodies and having their bodies embalmed--all in the name of science.

Or was it?

Science and entertainment have become intertwined within the world of “freaks”. Scientists and showmen embalmed bodies of “freaks” and would continue to display them following their deaths for years. Wax celebrities are made in the name of entertainment as “freaks” were. However, the involvement of scientists with the displaying of “freaks” has implications for more than one person. For freaks were often examined, displayed, and embalmed in order to provide scientific information and perhaps “evidence” which could be applied to a whole population of individuals. Conversely, wax celebrities are a small demographic, and are a highly idealized population.

“Freaks” serve as the deviant population. Celebrities represent the ideal in which everyone is to strive, whereas freaks are the ones in which we are to distance ourselves from, even feel fortunate to not be considered one. Perhaps the reason for preserving freaks is scientific--to perhaps help others who suffer from the same disorder. However, maybe the reason we are searching for answers to prevent the disorder is because we want to attempt to reduce the probability of “freaks” and increase “normalcy.” Or have preserved “freaks” served as a sort of point of reference for which doctors and people to point at to label someone as deviant? Wax celebrities are a reminder of the ideal, of normalcy, of what we should strive to be, preserved “freaks” are symbols of deviancy.

Angela B.