bavarikon4UNotice
This object is problematic from an ethical and moral point of view because of what is depicted or because of its contents. bavarikon is displaying it in order to enable and promote a critical, sensitive examination of these depictions and their contents. As the operator of bavarikon, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) expressly distances itself from discriminatory, racist, stereotyping, and inhuman representations and content.
Description
“Freak shows” were very popular at the Oktoberfest around the turn of the century. The performances staged physical deviations from the norm as a bizarre fascination and thus catered to the audience’s distinct liking for voyeurism. People with the most diverse physical anomalies, impairments or dubious “talents” were presented on the stages.
Karl Gabriel (1857-1931) presented a showcase at the 1926 Oktoberfest that advertised the “three fattest and heaviest colossal girls today” as the “latest 7th wonder of the world”. Gabriel conducted an extensive advertising campaign beforehand to ensure that the attraction was attended by as large an audience as possible. The three girls Elsa, Elvira and Bertha (from left to right) can be seen on the poster from the Munich City Museum’s holdings.
The poster shows a discriminatory portrayal of being “different” and thus picks up on the contemporary strong fascination with the “unusual” and “exotic”. The people portrayed in the shows were brought to the public’s attention due to their unique physical appearance alone. Moreover, it is not clear whether the stars of this show were minors who were forced to perform.