It's important to remember that the circus is a separate culture in itself.
The first circus, as we know it today, took place in 1768 when a crowd gathered around a ring formed of stakes and rope in London. Its roots, however, touch upon many cultures. Whether presented on a stage or in a ring in the classical style, in the words of Ernest Hemingway, the circus is an 'ageless delight.' Young or old, rich or poor, east or west, north or south, Circus reaches all of us.
The circus is unique among performing art forms in that it has its own culture. This culture extends back thousands of years, to the royal practitioners of tumbling and wirewalking in the ancient courts of the Egypt and the banquets of Rome. During the Middle Ages itinerant performers traveled from town to town, living removed from society, as the Jews and gypsies. Over time they developed their own language, their own codes of conduct, their own culture, a culture that translated into the circus as a complete form, in the tenting shows of the Wild West. “They realize their utter detachment from the
workaday world, for they are more explicitly detached then almost any other class of people," wrote Morris Markey in the New Yorker in 1927. Today the circus has gone mainstream, but culture remains one of the most defining and attractive features of the art. Properly developed the circus can provide a unique place for individuals of diverse backgrounds to gather and interact. It can offer a sense of belonging and unity of purpose unparalleled in other forms. But what is this culture exactly? Explore this website and find out!
With that said, I want you to explore this website and discover the complexity of the circus. On a word document, answer the following questions. What you don't finish will be homework and must be emailed to me by 8am tomorrow. I will be available through skype or email if any of you have questions tonight.
What are the dangers involved?
Is there controversy in the circus? If so, give examples.
How would you describe circus culture? How is it different from your own culture?
There are several types of cultures (English, American, Canadian, Australian, Chinese, etc.) within the circus culture. How has the diversity of the circus influenced its growth and development?
ONCE YOU'VE FINISHED, explain any five aspects of the circus that you find especially intriguing and explain why; however, these aspects must relate back to either the circus culture or cultures within the circus.
OR
Form a smart reflection on the PBS article located in the subpage of the "Random Circus Facts" page. Highlight the most notable aspects of the article and how it relates to the circus culture. There is no length requirement for your reflection, but it must be thorough.
REMEMBER, in order to receive full credit, your responses must be thoughtful and complete with at least three strong sentences per answer.
http://www.circusfederation.org/circus_culture
http://www.americanyouthcircus.org/Resources/Documents/EdCon%202012/EdCon%20Workshop%20Descriptions%20Official.pdf
The first circus, as we know it today, took place in 1768 when a crowd gathered around a ring formed of stakes and rope in London. Its roots, however, touch upon many cultures. Whether presented on a stage or in a ring in the classical style, in the words of Ernest Hemingway, the circus is an 'ageless delight.' Young or old, rich or poor, east or west, north or south, Circus reaches all of us.
The circus is unique among performing art forms in that it has its own culture. This culture extends back thousands of years, to the royal practitioners of tumbling and wirewalking in the ancient courts of the Egypt and the banquets of Rome. During the Middle Ages itinerant performers traveled from town to town, living removed from society, as the Jews and gypsies. Over time they developed their own language, their own codes of conduct, their own culture, a culture that translated into the circus as a complete form, in the tenting shows of the Wild West. “They realize their utter detachment from the
workaday world, for they are more explicitly detached then almost any other class of people," wrote Morris Markey in the New Yorker in 1927. Today the circus has gone mainstream, but culture remains one of the most defining and attractive features of the art. Properly developed the circus can provide a unique place for individuals of diverse backgrounds to gather and interact. It can offer a sense of belonging and unity of purpose unparalleled in other forms. But what is this culture exactly? Explore this website and find out!
With that said, I want you to explore this website and discover the complexity of the circus. On a word document, answer the following questions. What you don't finish will be homework and must be emailed to me by 8am tomorrow. I will be available through skype or email if any of you have questions tonight.
What are the dangers involved?
Is there controversy in the circus? If so, give examples.
How would you describe circus culture? How is it different from your own culture?
There are several types of cultures (English, American, Canadian, Australian, Chinese, etc.) within the circus culture. How has the diversity of the circus influenced its growth and development?
ONCE YOU'VE FINISHED, explain any five aspects of the circus that you find especially intriguing and explain why; however, these aspects must relate back to either the circus culture or cultures within the circus.
OR
Form a smart reflection on the PBS article located in the subpage of the "Random Circus Facts" page. Highlight the most notable aspects of the article and how it relates to the circus culture. There is no length requirement for your reflection, but it must be thorough.
REMEMBER, in order to receive full credit, your responses must be thoughtful and complete with at least three strong sentences per answer.
http://www.circusfederation.org/circus_culture
http://www.americanyouthcircus.org/Resources/Documents/EdCon%202012/EdCon%20Workshop%20Descriptions%20Official.pdf