Humans have always been fascinated by other humans. But with human curiosities come multiple ethical dilemmas. Is exploitation occurring? Was informed consent a consideration? How have people with varying physical abilities been treated? What do Coney Island sideshows have to do with neonatal intensive care? How did we get from Tod Browning’s 1932 film Freaks to Honey Boo Boo and the Long Island Medium? We’ll be revisiting instances of humans on display throughout history — from Daisy and Violet Hilton, to Paris and Nicky Hilton — and considering the ethical issues involved with performing, producing and consuming this form of entertainment.
Join Dr. Elizabeth Yuko (“Everything I Know About Bioethics I Learned from The Golden Girls”) to discuss these and other topics on the second Wednesday of each month. Each show will focus on one ethical issue which will be discussed using case examples from popular culture first through a lecture and multimedia presentation, then with a panel discussion with relevant experts, and concluding in a group discussion with the audience.