Remembering Joys that Have Passed Away by Edwin Mulready
The circus shutting
down is a big deal. I would never support the circus and should feel pleased about it. However, I admit I shared the same instinctive negative
reaction felt by a surprising number of people that commented on the news stories about this event.
Why?
1. We have a much
larger amount of “circus” talk in our language than you
would first think:
“balancing act’
“high wire act”
“walking a
tightrope”
different kind of
“acts” in general
“juggling”
different tasks or priorities
“clown’ as a
pejorative and verb
“ringmaster”
“safety net”
“dog and pony
show”
“circus” meaning disorganized or absurd
The traveling circus
is a major part of American culture and source of many metaphors. The
impact is similar to baseball. If there was suddenly no market at all
for baseball and it vanished it would feel odd. We would sense that our language and culture lost a little bit of meaning.
2. There was an
inordinate amount of concern for the minuscule number of out of work circus
employees. I suspect the reason this is on our minds it is a loss of jobs that cannot, even in theory, ever be
automated. No one will pay to see a computer or launched out of a
cannon. This again evokes anxieties about cultural transition.
3. According to many of the news articles the circus lost
its value because because we now have a seemingly infinite choice of other
entertainment options. In other words our entire lives have become circuses filled with entertaining distractions. Yet another cause for alarm.
4. Mainstream Fake
News took advantage of the story to push an insidious subliminal
message in the from of a stupid joke-”there is nowhere left to run away to". Really subtle and masterful
work.
Bonus thought: my advice for what's left of the circus industry
A traveling
circus is regressive and crass and just couldn’t keep up with the
times. They stopped using elephants and installed the first woman
ringmaster but perhaps they didn’t go far enough to appeal to today's
sophisticated consumer. What they need to bring in
a modern crowd is a complete reversal of their former deplorable
practices. By that I mean a show where the elephants torture humans.
