Who owns the long nose?
This statue belongs to an Englishman called Thomas Vedders. He lived in the 18th century. In England. Born in 1970, Vedders was a circus performer. Vedders became a circus star because of his nose. Vedders, with his unusual nose, was a very valuable exhibit.
Available historical accounts show that Vedder’s nose was 19 cm (7.5 inches) long.
We have limited information about Weathers’ life. He was described in the periodicals as mentally challenged. But it is questionable whether this was really a mental challenge. At that time, anyone with major physical differences was described as ‘mentally retarded’. It is a fact that such methods existed in our country until recently. It must have been a common thing in the 18th century to label those who stood out as ‘dumb’ and their ilk and were presented to society as such.
Vedders is said to have died in 1780. Only one sketch of him survives from that time. It was painted almost 16 years after Vedders’ death. This picture cannot be fully accepted as it tends to exaggerate.
Anyway, Guinness World Records has dedicated a page for Vedders. It is a posthumous honor. Perhaps he was hunted a lot during his lifetime. Vedders died at fifty or fifty-two.
Traveling Freak Circus
Up until the 90s, bike warriors used to come to our countryside. They will be in the country for a few days, performing small magic exercises. After a while they will look for another exhibition centre. In 1991, the film Vishnu Lokam was based on the life of a cycle pilgrim.
Such incidents were common in 18th century England. Weathers was a member of one circus company called the Traveling Freak Show. These were also known as creep shows. It was common in such shows to display the physical wonders of human beings. Because of the length of the big nose, Vedders made a living out of it.
Today such displays are recognized as a discriminating aspect between man and man. Vedders life was in an unknown era. Many people who are known as sexual minorities today became prominent figures in such circuses at the time. They lived as useless people in society. and was disturbed on a large scale. Rare things like short people and people with unusual diseases were exhibited in such circuses. Most were inhuman.
Along with this, there were also some who turned themselves into freaks and made money by displaying it. Some have found themselves strange and have lived by tattooing all over their bodies and hanging various hooks and earrings over their bodies.
vedders had an innate quirk that didn’t allow him to enjoy such adventures.
Freak shows were active throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Such shows grew in popularity in the late 20th century. The racism, xenophobia and inhumanity of such shows were later recognised. With that, freak shows took the entertainment industry to another level. We still see those platforms operating around us with humanitarian methods. We call them amusement parks and so on.
