Culture presentation

Circus

Afra Tsai9330606825, March, 2008

A circus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists. […] A circus is held in an oval or circular arena with tiered seating around its edge; in the case of traveling circuses this location is most often a large tent called the big top.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus

The Latin word circus, which comes from the Greek word kirkos, “circle, ring,” referred to a circular or oval area enclosed by rows of seats for spectators.

http://www.answers.com/topic/circus?nr=1&lsc=true

Intro

Circus wagon/trainBig top/TentRing, arenaRing masterEquitationMagicianVentriloquistBalancer/Funambulist

JugglerSword swallower/fire

eaterFlyer/aerialistClownGiant/midget(dwarf)Lion tamerFate teller

Traits

Culture: Society entertainment Childhood memory

Literature: Ray Bradbury: The illustrated man Something wicked this way comes

Performing Art: Charles Chaplin: The Circus (1928) Disney: Dumbo (1941) Stage design/Music/Advertising…

Influences

A three-ring circus A situation characterized by confusing, engrossing, or

amusing activity.

Horse around To behave in a rowdy, improper, or unruly fashion: act

up, carry on, misbehave

A balancing act A difficult situation in which you try to achieve several

different things at the same time.

Language

Walk a tightrope Take or be on a very precarious course

Bread and circus Activities that are intended to keep people happy so that

they do not complain about problems.

The show must go on Despite tragic accidents, poor weather conditions, and

other setbacks warranting cancellations, circus shows usually took place as scheduled.

Language

Never look back during a parade. (Some shows fined those who transgressed.) Never sit on the ringcurb facing out. Never whistle in the dressing room. Peacock feathers are bad luck. Accidents happen in threes. Elephants must always have their trunks up in

pictures. Hair from the tail of an elephant is good luck. (Often made into rings or bracelets.)

Superstitions

http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus http://goodmagic.com/carny/c_a.htm http://circus.bendall.de/lingo.html http://www.circusweb.com/circuswebFrames.html http://www.circusland.com/photo/ephoto.php http://www.answers.com/topic/circus http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/circus http://www.macmillandictionaries.com/med-magazine/Feb08/49-LA-

Idioms.htm http://www.hltmag.co.uk/jan06/mart05.htm

All retrieved 2008/03/25

References