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History Isn’t Always Black and White
The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek explores the unique, lesser-known area of entertainment history and how it impacted performing arts and societal changes. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to write this book because there was remarkably little written on the subject previously. There are plenty of books on sideshow that elaborate on various acts, but the geek act is always just sort of glossed over in the history books. I am not only fascinated by the geek act on a personal level, but given how it is essentially a dead act with such a deep history, I felt it would be valuable to release a detailed work on the subject.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I did a tremendous amount of research for the book. I visited libraries, corresponded with academic institutions, read through hundreds of newspaper achieves, and ended up interviewing nearly a dozen people for the project that had expertise on the subject of geek (including three people that actually performed as geeks decades prior). This is not to mention the numerous books, cabinet cards, and old sideshow pitchbooks that I procured for the project. My Works Cited section alone is 32 pages long. It took five years of research and writing to put everything together.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to help granulate the definition of the the sideshow geek because any source you find is going to have a different definition. For one of the chapters, I interviewed numerous thought leaders in sideshow and consulted numerous historical sources to help answer the question “What is a sideshow geek?” as I searched for commonalities among the various perspectives. I also wanted to explore the very evolution of the word linguistically and how much the meaning of the word “geek” has shifted away from sideshow in recent generations to mean something completely different by todays standards.
Naturally, with a book like this that deals with a controversial historical subject, it is important to take the good with the bad. My perspective was to report the history of the geek act in a relatively impartial way without taking a strong moral stance and let the reader draw their own conclusions. History isn’t always black and white, so it’s important to be aware of nuance when you are examining something historically that took place in a different time period and wasn’t restricted to a singular occurrence.
Will there be a follow-up book to The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek? If so, what topics can readers expect in the next book?
Absolutely. I’m working on the follow-up now. It will be very similar to The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek in the sense that it will also be a sideshow book that deals with the history of another gruesome sideshow act. However, this time I am wrapping the general history around a personal quest of myself trying to solve a real-life showbusiness mystery regarding one of the most extreme practitioners of this particular type of act. Essentially, I’m going to discuss the history of the genre he performed in while trying to figure out his true identity. Will I succeed? Find out all about it in my next book!
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The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek: Snake Eaters, Human Ostriches, & Other Extreme Entertainments
Nathan Wakefield’s The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek offers an insightful exploration into the historical phenomenon of the sideshow geek, a term that has significantly evolved over time. Unlike today’s association with technology enthusiasts or experts in niche topics, the original ‘geek’ was a carnival sideshow performer known for engaging in shocking acts, such as biting off chicken heads or eating snakes. Wakefield delves into the lives of these performers, many of whom portrayed themselves as ‘wild men’ adorned with mud and fur, captivating Victorian audiences with their bizarre and often grotesque performances.
Wakefield’s research is thorough, bolstered by a wealth of references, sources, and visual aids, including vintage photographs and drawings. He enriches the narrative with interviews from former geeks, providing a personal touch to the historical recount. The writing is approachable and engaging, taking readers into a world rarely visited. The vivid descriptions of the acts, some involving animal cruelty, can be unsettling, reflecting a bygone era’s entertainment values vastly different from today’s standards. The book also touches on the poignant life stories of the geeks, many of whom were simply striving to make a living under challenging circumstances.
This book will likely attract readers interested in unique historical narratives, particularly those pertaining to entertainment and societal changes. Readers intrigued by historical narratives and unique entertainment forms will find this book enriching. However, it’s worth noting that its vivid portrayals of past practices are best appreciated by those with an interest in the more graphic aspects of history. Wakefield’s work serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of entertainment and the human inclination towards the unconventional while also acknowledging the darker aspects of these historical practices.
Nathan Wakefield’s The Rise and Fall of the Sideshow Geek is a meticulously researched and engagingly written work, offering a unique window into a lesser-known chapter of entertainment history. It skillfully balances historical detail with human stories, making it a compelling read for those fascinated by the evolution of performance art and societal change.
Pages: 523 | ASIN : B0CW2TRWJX
LITERARY TITAN 