Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus [Paperback]

J. Dee Hill (Author), Phil Hollenbeck (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2005

Beyond the historical confines of Ringling Bros. and the über-kitsch of Cirque du Soleil, tightly knit alternative circus troupes like Yard Dogs Road Show, Flam Chen, Circus Contraption, and other over-the-top groups bring thrill-starved audiences sometimes disturbing, sometimes exhilarating riffs on the classic circus. From the sick shockfests of the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow to the anarchic burlesque of the Bindlestiff Family Circus to the obscure but elegant puppetry of the Cloudseeding Circus of the Performative Object, Freaks and Fire celebrates the world of the underground circus. The voices of the performers themselves describe the grit and glamour of their art — from chaos-inducing performances to paying the rent. J. Dee Hill's provocative text and Phil Hollenbeck's lurid images explore the role of these self-styled freaks in society, along the way giving a snapshot of society itself, of the large audience these neo-vaudevillians seek to dazzle and challenge.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press (January 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932360522
• ISBN-13: 978-1932360523
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and intriguing, March 25, 2005

By 

Brian G. Keeton "San Fran Man" (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus (Paperback)

This book offers a lot--it is an insightful and intriguing look inside the world of alternative circus shows, and is both entertaining and riveting. The accompanying photographs really capture the essence of the performances, as well, and complement this thought-provoking tome quite nicely. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars view of "alternative" circuses, April 30, 2005

By 

Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus (Paperback)

J. Dee Hill is a former bureau chief of Adweek writing about "radical" or "alternative" circus. This is not your familiar Ringling Brothers Circus, meant mainly to drawn families and entertain and awe children. This radical circus cannot even be compared to a typical, traditional circus. Think the most outrageous performance art you even saw--and then some. The side show has taken center stage. Although some of the costumes and performances resemble the Mardi Gras carnival festivities of Rio de Janiero. Zamora the Torture King, Brothers Grim Sideshows, and Bindlestiff Family Circus are the names of some of the troupes. Hill takes these and a few others one by one with accompanying photos by Hollenbeck to demonstrate the exotic make-up and dress and the startling acts. The book doesn't play up the sensationalistic, sometimes macabre, occasionally repulsive aspects of such circuses--this is evident enough without any emphasis by the author. The book has a sociological and cultural vein too, with performers telling their interesting stories of what drew them to this field of contemporary entertainment and how they got into it.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Whirlwind Tour of the Bizarro World, September 10, 2010

By 

S. Aydt "Yehoodi" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Freaks and Fire: The Underground Reinvention of Circus (Paperback)

Freaks & Fire: The Underground Reinvention of of Circus is not only a wild romp, it's funny, poignant and ultimately inspirational. Author J. Dee Hill has a natural ear for the best stories and writes with dry wit and aplomb that well suits her subject. Reminiscent of the better volumes of RE/Search Press, F & F gives you a all-access pass to the weirdest roadshows, ranging from the astonishing to the scatological. Bizarre freaks and uncanny wonders are brought forth to wriggle in the light, whether to entertain or provoke.

For me, this was ultimately an insightful study of creative communities, their triumphs, heartbreaks and the factors that can lead to their dissolution. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of modern collaborative and nomadic communities, united through love of craft, showmanship and new ideals for living. The failures are every bit as instructive as the successes. The personalities are bigger than life, sometimes problematically so. But more often than not, the synergy crackles, takes light and generates real awe and wonder. Reinvention begins with the circus template but soon takes flight into other unexpected realms.

Hill's secret history captures this ephemeral world with such poetry that it will be the rare reader who doesn't want to run away with the circus. Essential reading!