While I was watching the pilot episode of Carnivale, I could not help but see some similarities between this critically acclaimed television series and the anthology series of American Horror Story. In it's most recent season: FREAK SHOW, many stylistic elements either parallel or even borrow heavily from Carnivale.
Set of CarnivaleAmerican Horror Story: Freak Show takes place during the 1950's in Florida and Carnivale takes place in 1930's Oklahoma during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl. The characters who are present in both traveling carnivals include conjoined twins, a bearded lady, little people and a psychic. Also, the aesthetic of both set design and props are similar in that the trailers used by the traveling "carnies" look authentic in both their interior and exterior designs for their appropriated time periods. Moreover, these trailers are personalized with decor, style and tidiness according to which character lives there. Also, the carnival tents, lights and giant ferris wheel all add to the effect of looking genuine. In my opinion, AHS's aesthetic is more modern and brightly colored and vibrant in appearance while Carnivale's style is more sepia-toned, catering to a dusty appearance.
Set of AHS: Freak ShowMoreover, traveling carnivals in the past were a form of entertainment for the public. I think both shows highlight the accuracy of the dynamic between the carnival characters to be like a close family. They all eat together, drink together, smoke cigarettes together, play cards with one another and are there for each other.
Carnies from Carnivale
Other similarities between the two series is that there is some play with scenes that contain dark elements and nightmares. This is shown through the nightmares of Ben in Carnivale and the conjoined twins in AHS. Both of these shows set their tone of episodes through their detailed opening credits. For example, within the intricate kind of stop motion technique used in AHS it portrays to the audience the kind of complexity the show has to offer as well as it's elements of creepiness, horror, drama and mystery. These primary elements parallel those present in Carnivale's opening credits as well, where Tarot cards are utilized to tell it's story that has it's own twists and turns. In addition, Carnivale's opening credit sequence heavily depicts the struggle of good versus evil.
Carnies from AHS
What do you guys think? Is American Horror Story: Freakshow a rip-off of Carnivale!?
Creator Daniel Knauf, of the television series Carnivàle, shared his reasons behind the shows conception. First, Knauf had always been interested in carnivals and wanted to pursue this concept more on television. Knauf’s father suffered from post-polio syndrome, which sadly, left him disabled in a wheelchair. Growing up, Knauf realized that his father was not commonly accepted in the eyes of others as a normal human being. All that people saw was the wheelchair and not the person in that wheelchair. Consequently, Knauf uses actors and actresses who have some disability, or something different about them, in his series, which is based on his own personal experiences growing up. What I find very beautiful in this is that Knauf gave an opportunity to some of his cast – so people could see them for who they are and not the disability they have. Knauf seems to push for actresses who are simply natural and content with what they look like, not actresses with plastic surgery. Knauf really encourages the idea that we are all human beings, no matter what we look like.
ReplyDeleteOne would think – what went wrong with Carnivàle? American Horror Story: Freak Show borrows heavily from Carnivàle and is right now ranked sixth most popular show, according to tvguide.com. Carnivàle was first made in 2003, whereas AHS premiered in 2011. American Horror Story: Freak Show also portrays people who are considered “freaks” or otherwise discriminated by the public. From Nip/Tuck to Glee, the creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk wanted to explore something new, and this was the horror genre. Did they really want to explore something new or exploit Daniel Knauf’s entire ideas? For example, both shows have bearded ladies. If I were Daniel Knauf, I would be very, very frustrated. In an interview with The A.V. Club and Daniel Knauf, you see the conflict between HBO thinking Carnivàle is one type of genre and Knauf thinking something different. Knauf said that when he would get to the horror parts, HBO were very dissatisfied. HBO would say this is not the way we see your show; it is drama. Knauf would say that his show was in the horror genre – we are talking about demons and angels for crying out loud!
It is unfortunate that Carnivàle was cut short. However, Knauf did say in the same interview with The A.V. Club that the fan base started growing immensely after the show was taken off the air, which in many cases does not happen. Carnivàle, prior to leaving the air, had 4,000 followers, and Knauf thinks it is up to 7,500 ever since it went off the air. People are definitely turning to Carnivàle as their choice of entertainment. Daniel Knauf seemed to be very understanding of HBO doing what they did. Of course, he was upset with the decision of HBO, but Knauf gives this metaphor “You’re sitting there, and you’re in the middle of a book, and somebody comes and takes the book away. That made them [fans] crazy. But what are you going to do?” And that is exactly how fans and Knauf himself feel – there is a big gap that may or may not ever be fulfilled.
Works Cited:
“TV Guide Most Popular TV Shows.” TV Guide. CBS Interactive Inc., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014. .
VanDerWerff, Todd. “Daniel Knauf Tells Us His Plan for the End of Carnivàle.” A.V. Club. Onion Inc., 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Nov. 2014