Cirkus
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| Cirkus | |
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| Name | Cirkus |
| Genre | Circus |
Cirkus is a term associated with a traveling spectacle featuring acrobatic, clowning, animal, and variety acts that emerged in modern form during the late 18th and 19th centuries. It draws on traditions from European equestrian shows, Ottoman itinerant performers, Chinese acrobats, and Indian jongleurs, integrating spectacle, staging, and popular entertainment. Performers and producers linked to circuses often intersect with institutions such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Moscow State Circus, Carnival of Venice, and festivals including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreux Jazz Festival.
Etymology
The name derives indirectly from Latin roots associated with the Roman Empire and public arenas like the Circus Maximus and spectacles of the Colosseum. Influences include etymological currents from Italian Renaissance parlance, French Revolution era impresarios, and nomenclature used by firms such as P. T. Barnum and Philip Astley. Parallel terminologies developed in languages of Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, and Qing dynasty regions where itinerant performance cultures coexisted with court entertainments.
History
Origins trace to equestrian displays popularized by Philip Astley in 18th-century London, who blended riders, clowns, and tumblers—a lineage shared with troupes like Astley's Amphitheatre. The 19th century saw expansion through entrepreneurs such as P. T. Barnum, James Bailey, and Adam Forepaugh, consolidating into large touring spectacles exemplified by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. International developments included state-sponsored forms like the Moscow State Circus under Soviet Union cultural policy and avant-garde adaptations by companies such as Cirque du Soleil emerging from Quebec in the late 20th century. Parallel traditions persisted in China, India, Turkey, and Brazil where local performance lineages met industrial-age mass entertainment, fairs like Great Exhibition, and media such as early cinema and radio broadcasts.
Forms and Performance Styles
Forms range from classical equestrian and big-top extravaganzas associated with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to contemporary theatrical productions exemplified by Cirque du Soleil and experimental companies such as NoFit State Circus and Les 7 Doigts de la Main. Styles include acrobatics linked to Nippon Budō and Chinese acrobatics troupes, clowning traditions connected to figures like Joseph Grimaldi and Charlie Chaplin, aerial arts found in Vaudeville and Paris Opera Ballet crossovers, and animal acts historically tied to menageries like those of Bernard and Carl Hagenbeck. Street and festival variants appear at events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Biennale di Venezia, and SXSW, while contemporary hybridizations engage with companies like Blue Man Group and collaborations with institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Organization and Production
Production involves promoters, ringmasters, stagehands, and logistics firms comparable to operations run by Ringling Bros. and touring circuits similar to Live Nation and AEG Presents. Financing historically combined ticketing, sponsorship from entities like Harrods and patronage from municipal authorities such as the City of London Corporation. Technical production draws on lighting designers from institutions like Royal Albert Hall, rigging standards influenced by International Association of Venue Managers, and safety oversight by regulators including ministries in United Kingdom, United States, and European Union member states. Marketing strategies intersect with media conglomerates such as NBCUniversal, BBC, and streaming platforms pioneered by Netflix and YouTube for global reach.
Notable Companies and Performers
Prominent companies and individuals associated with circus traditions include Philip Astley, P. T. Barnum, James Bailey, Ringling Brothers, Moscow State Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, NoFit State Circus, Bolshoi Circus artists, and performers from lineages such as Grimaldi family, The Flying Wallendas, Siegfried & Roy (noting animal controversies), aerialists collaborating with Christopher Wheeldon, and innovators like Emilio Salgari-era Italian troupes. Festivals and venues showcasing acts include Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cirque éloize showcases, and national theatres including the Lincoln Center and La Scala when hosting crossover productions.
Cultural Impact and Reception
Circus forms influenced visual artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Seurat, writers such as Charles Dickens and Dostoevsky, and filmmakers including Federico Fellini and Tod Browning. Music composers from Igor Stravinsky to John Lennon referenced circus imagery; the medium shaped popular culture via Vaudeville, Broadway musicals, and cinematic works like The Greatest Show on Earth and La Strada. Public reception varied: golden-age spectacles attracted mass audiences via touring networks across continents and elicited critical debates in cultural institutions including Museum of Modern Art and national broadcasting services like the BBC.
Safety, Regulation, and Animal Welfare
Safety protocols arose after high-profile incidents prompting regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and United States with legislation shaped by incidents involving touring companies like Ringling Bros. and performers akin to The Flying Wallendas. Animal welfare controversies implicated institutions such as Hagenbeck-style menageries and led to policy shifts by entities including the ASPCA, RSPCA, and European regulators in Brussels. Contemporary companies like Cirque du Soleil largely eliminated animal acts, responding to advocacy from organizations like World Animal Protection, and insurers including Lloyd's of London underwrite risks for modern productions.
Category:Entertainment