From a continuation of today’s class discussions, we talked
a lot about how much the “exhibits” were a part of a bigger scheme to make
money. Something that I felt we didn’t talk too much about was the importance
of the scientists and their relations with these figures that were taken from a
different part of the world. In Circus Africanus, the subject of the scientists
and the people that they brought back included sexuality. The way that the
chapter was written, there was not a controversial backlash from that time
period. Baartman, the main focus of today’s discussion was raped frequently and
stood naked at parties while attendees shouted vulgarities at her. These
examples relate to the idea of the “freak shows” but people did not see any
problems whatsoever with the sexual brutalities brought upon these “servants”
of service. We did however did look at how scientists looked at the body of
Baartman analyzing her buttocks, and genitals. While Joice Heth had the
controversy of having her autopsy in public and emphasis should be placed on
how there was no consent of the autopsy. What are your opinions? Which rights
do you believe are violated or taken away here?
Darren Pope
Essentially I believe that both people had their basic right of humanity taken away every time they were put on display. Both women were stuck being under the control of a master and both were displayed against their will even if they consider it to be of their own will. These people lost any chance at a normal life and really did not have any right to be violated in the first place. They simply lost their chance to be human in any sense of the word.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting irony I noted is that while these black women were put on display to display a sexual abnormality and deviance, they were also leered at and considered desirable in some way, if only for their bodies. Put another way, the very people who were supposed to be examples of what is NOT attractive in Western society were in fact lusted over by Westerners. It displays a hypocriticalness that is astounding, a hypocriticalness that was physically manifested by the loss of humanity through the constant verbal and physical harassment they endured.
ReplyDeleteI agree with webs0264 in that both people had their basic right taken away from them when they were shown to the public. If we connect it to today, the idea of taking away their human rights has completely changed. Women everywhere are being posed and shown sexually to men just to please them. Sometimes women don't want to be shown like this, and some women do. Women are still being displayed like this whether they like it or not.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well, that both individuals had their basic rights taken away from them and were mistreated. I think that either agaisnt their own will or not (we cant be certain) they didnt really have any alternative way of life. Without their owners they might not have been able to survive. I agree with Courtney O. as well in the fact that women are still being objectified in today's society. In some way or another, by the way they dress, are expected to look, or act.
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