Joice Heth, Barnum's first curiosity, was believed to be over a hundred years old and alleged that she had been President George Washington's nurse. He quickly learned that "Imagination proved the critical weapon for gaining success with Joice Heth; imagination and instinct for public excitement"" (Harris 20). Joice Heth was an old slave whom Barnum was struck by her appearance and character, "so far as outward indications were concerned, she might almost as well have been called a thousand years old as any other age"" (Harris 21). With his partner R.W. Lindsay and his bill of sale for Joice Heth, Barnum arranged for his first exhibition. Through Joice Heth, Barnum had to master the art of humbugging. His first task was to set up a place to show his exhibition and lucratively advertise his new attraction. He learned that, "the public would be more excited by controversy than by conclusiveness"" (Harris 23). While Barnum taught himself the business of deception, the world around him was learning and growing with him. .
During the Market Revolution, in 1815, there was a growing system of exchange of goods, services, and agricultural products for money. People were connected through competition for more money and control. "Wealthy New England merchants led the way, but a wide variety of private individuals and public institutions proved willing to invest their money and energy in new economic opportunities" (Jones 257). Fueled by the Transportation Revolution, which helped transport goods through the use of canals, roads, and railroads, the Market Revolution gave Americans a new perspective of the American way of life. These changes encouraged "people to adopt an optimistic worldview about the possibilities that included moving from one place to another, making money by selling new products and aspiring to buy goods rather than produce goods at home"" (Jones 258). P.T. Barnum used this to his advantage in giving the American people an encouragement to view his displays.
Burrows and Wallace's rigid application of the word "race" fails to account for the evolution of P.T. Barnum's subject matter. ... However, Burrows and Wallace emphasize race, "blackness" in particular, as "central to Barnum's formula." ... Rather, "blackness" was synonymous with the grotesque, the latter of which was imperative to Barnum's formula. Barnum's eagerness to distort was by no means limited to race. ...
The 19th century in the United States of America was essential in its history and its social life and entertainment was crucial. The new middle class sparked the rise of consumer culture as well as more democratic forms of entertainment, or popular culture. As printing became cheaper, newspaper pr...
Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum was possibly the greatest showman of the world. ... Barnum was born in a close knit town of dunsbury Connecticut. His mother was Irena Barnum and his father was Phino Barnum. ... Barnum bought his first curiosity called Joice. ... He finally started his own show when he realized that curiosities were his life. ...
"The Wizard of Oz,"" takes a positive approach toward the change from Agrarian to urban life that was taking place; Baum seems to be telling the country, "It's all good."" ... Oz creates a city in which it appears good can come to all, much in the same way tricksters like P.T. Barnum created a false sense of reality. ... Dorothy undergoes no transformation, even after experiencing the Great City of Oz, demonstrating that people can enjoy the city-life without losing their past. ... Big cities, therefore, should not be something to fear, but rather a new style of life that Americans sho...
An example of how press agentry has been used in the past is the story of P.T Barnum; he was a circus promoter who wanted to gain as much publicity as possible for the circus, his primary goal was to achieve as high an attendance as he could. ... The sole purpose of the publicity stunt is primarily to get attention; this type of practise also dates back to P.T Barnum who announced his circus' arrival by hitching an elephant to a plow beside the train tracks (M.Yudkin, 2000). ... Barnum's "There's a sucker born every minute- quote regarding Press Agentry, Goldman (1949) described...
Broadway has always been identified as the symbol of Manhattan's theatrical life. ... Yet, almost simultaneously, another area in New York was coming into its own in the area of theater life. ... P.T. Barnum had his beginnings on the Bowery, with a cheap dime museum where he showed off an alleged 161-year-old women who he claimed was in fact George Washington's nurse. ... After Barnum moved, other people imitated his idea on Bowery, bringing the circus back to its beginning's . ...
Like his contemporary P.T. Barnum, he deliberately cultivated myths about himself, which added to the stature of his products. ... He knew that, given that his guns were often used in life-and-death situations, quality was essential; even a few stories of guns jamming in action could ruin the product's reputation. ...
The Case of the Speluncean Explorers The most important element to consider in the case of the Speluncean Explorers is that of common sense. ... I would oppose them by saying yes it is a matter of life and death. ... Consider now how we as a society value human life. ... Ten men died in the effort to rescue the Speluncean Explorers. ... Common sense says of course not, our morals and value for human life would not allow it. ...
"Punch-Drunk Love" Film Review Once in a while, there comes an independent film that is a hit with the film festival streak. If it's lucky, it is shown a few "big screens" in major theatres over the United States. For the film, "Punch-Drunk Love," it's on its way up! "Punch-Drunk Love" is ...
