| Lately, I've been noticing a resurgence of circus, | | | | alternative circus based in California. Then came |
| Vaudeville, and Victorian magic show aesthetics in | | | | Britney Spear's hit album Circus (2008). The music |
| popular culture and media. Sequins, tutus, leotards, | | | | of Circus borrows from the circus waltzes of the |
| pinstripes, tights, and mini top hats have made a | | | | 19th century (like those of The Ringling Brothers) |
| revival among our celebrities. Less extreme | | | | combined with contemporary club music to create |
| versions of these fashions have found their way | | | | a catchy album. The album artwork features |
| into the closets of alternative teenagers. | | | | photographs of Spears decked-out in fashions |
| The circus has become increasingly popular in the | | | | inspired by trapeze artists. This styling was then |
| past ten years in large part due to the | | | | continued and topped by pop artist Pink, as she |
| contemporary circus movement via Cirque du | | | | actually performed an aerial act while singing for |
| Soleil. Cirque du Soleil was founded in Quebec in | | | | the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. Impressive. |
| 1984. It now has shows in all over the world, | | | | Juicy Couture's autumn 2009 campaign featured a |
| including three in Las Vegas and three in New | | | | contortionist and a ringleader/magician type |
| York. | | | | character. The catch line was "Do the Donts" and |
| Bravo television brought Cirque du Soleil to a | | | | advertised frilly feathered jackets and brightly |
| wider audience in early 2000. Those who live in | | | | colored tights. Lucent Dossier Experience has been |
| places without a stationary circus and not often | | | | photographed for Vogue magazine twice. They |
| visited could experience it through their shows | | | | were also the subject of a shoot with Vanity Fair |
| Solstrom (2003), which recreates acts from | | | | for this past January's Italian issue. Hot Topic, a |
| various shows for the screen and Fire Within | | | | store that has found its way into virtually every |
| (2004), which documents the creation and | | | | mall in America, is now carrying a line of top hats |
| performers of the show Varekai. | | | | with netting and peacock feathers. They also sell |
| Contemporary circus differs from traditional circus | | | | tutus. |
| in that it makes little to no use of animals for its | | | | What is it about the circus that has once again |
| acts, rarely has a ringleader and instead focuses | | | | captured the American eye? Why is it that |
| on story, much like at a ballet. The music is more | | | | suddenly people care about extravagance, |
| varied, often live, featuring everything from opera | | | | dangerous feats, and the fashion that goes with |
| to industrial; most of the acts revolve around a | | | | them? |
| variety of acrobatics from aerial silks, tightrope, | | | | Perhaps we are enamored with impossibilities |
| trampoline, jugglers, etc. | | | | made possible. The circus shows the full extent of |
| Now that the circus has again become | | | | the human potential: upon watching aerial acts we |
| mainstream, an upsurge of circus and | | | | see that we can fly, the tightrope reveals that |
| magic-related entertainment has appeared | | | | we can find balance even when our trials are |
| throughout Hollywood. Films like The Illusionist, | | | | extreme; when a jester trips and fools we see |
| staring Ed Norton and Jessica Biel, and The | | | | our own follies in a humorous light. Fashions |
| Prestige, with Christian Bale and Scarlet Johansson, | | | | borrowed bring to mind these things. We see that |
| both of which were in theatres in 2007, take | | | | there is magic, adventure, and delight even when |
| place within the world of the Victorian/Edwardian | | | | we occupy a stationary world. When we wear |
| magic show. | | | | brightly colored tights or a feathered head piece |
| Circus and variety show styling bled into pop | | | | we are taking little risks in a blue and white |
| music as well, first with Panic! At the Disco's music | | | | collared world. We become in our imaginations the |
| video "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies" (2006) which | | | | wayfaring stranger. |
| features the Lucent Dossier Experience, an | | | | |