Side Show 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Gifford Beal's "Side Show," a drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a snapshot of a bygone era, filled with anonymous figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The side show itself, literally in the center, acted as a liminal space. Consider the wheel symbol, promising fortune or misfortune. It's a cyclical reminder of our own turning fates. Editor: So, the side show reflects larger societal ideas? Curator: Precisely! The allure of the spectacle, the slightly dangerous thrill—it embodies a desire to peek behind the curtain of the ordinary. What do we seek in these 'other' spaces? Editor: I never considered the deeper meaning of entertainment and how it reflects our inner selves. Curator: Indeed! It's a visual echo of our own hopes and fears.