Abstract

SHAPIRO, CAROLINE BELLE. Images of Little People in Film and Television. (Under the directionof Ann Metcalf.)The purpose of this research is to describe how contemporary and historical images of Little People infilm and television affect the short-statured community. A survey was conducted of a sample of LittlePeople to gauge opinions and reactions to depictions of short-statured individuals in mass media.Furthermore, interviews were conducted with several Little People currently employed in the acting profession. While the respondents viewed many past and current images of Little People in film andtelevision as harmful to the short-statured community, the majority believed that depictions of LittlePeople had improved in recent years. The respondents offered advice to those within their communityon how to further improve the situation.

Images of Little People inFilm and Television byCaroline Belle ShapiroA thesis submitted to the Undergraduate Faculty of Mills Collegein partial fulfillment of therequirements for the Degree of Bachelor of ArtsAnthropology/SociologyOakland, California2009

Personal Statement

Many with whom I have come into contact during the course of conducting this research may be surprised to learn that I am not a Little Person. I am approximately 5' 6", which, for someone of myage, sex, and genetic background, is not considered exceptional in either direction. My parents are notLittle People; indeed I know of no members of my family who are or ever were Little People.Furthermore, I have no close friends who are Little People. In fact, until I chose to undertake this topicas the subject of my undergraduate thesis, I had never knowingly spoken to a Little Person in my life.This was not by choice, of course. I had just not had the opportunity yet.Trying to determine what initially sparked my interest in the topic of Little People in film andtelevision is a little like playing a game of connect-the-dots. I suppose it all started when I saw themovie

Freaks

at age 18 and was so enthralled that I became literally obsessed with learning everythingI could about its nontraditional cast. Made for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1932 by horror auteur TodBrowning,

Freaks

was unique in its portrayal of real contemporary sideshow performers of varioustalents and physical attributes. This included people born without arms, a woman with a full beard, and,of course, Little People. Though many consider the film to be exploitative and demeaning in its portrayal of these subjects, I wanted to know more about these sideshow performers as human beings.Who were they? Where did they come from? What was it like to live your entire life on display?Whether we like to admit it or not, the phenomenon of the sideshow is a part of our culture's history.Refusing to examine or acknowledge it does not change the fact that it happened, and that these peoplelived through it on a daily basis. Worse, denying the existence of this practice dishonors the memory of the people who gave their lives to performing in "the show." Therefore I decided to make it my missionto find out everything I could about how these people lived and worked, so that I could bring their stories to life and afford them the respect in death which they were so often denied in life.ii