Vaughn's presentation examines the FX network's "American Horror Story: Freak Show" in terms of its danger and allure of "monsters" as well as what he calls the show's "bait-and-switch appeal to its audience that starts out in voyeurism but ends in reflection."

"While the plot landscape of 'Freak Show' may have more dead ends than a new subdivision and the blunt sexuality may make us squirm in horror more intellectual than psychological, these writing choices are, I believe, deliberate attempts to make us, the audience, confront our own stereotypes about difference and 'disability,'" says Vaughn.

Vaughn explains that the beginning of this television viewing experience is similar to that of audiences that used to pay to take a seat at the carnival side shows of the 19th century -- shows that featured the bearded lady or two-headed animals. There's an attraction to "oddities" outside of our everyday experience.

"As the series unfolds, we're forced to confront what we consider issues of freakishness," Vaughn continues. "The 'freaks' in the series have their own sense of justice, their own sense of trust -- sometimes misplaced -- and their own ethics. In many instances, they demonstrate more admirable human qualities than the town's so-called ordinary characters," explains Vaughn.

Vaughn says while the show has been criticized for its over-the-top performances, disjointed plots and graphic sex and violence, "Freak Show" also forces audiences to consider the out of the ordinary as part of our social desire to separate people that we see differently than ourselves, including the disabled or the "abnormal."

"'Freak Show' forces us to confront our own intellectual fears about difference, about diversity and about fears of change," says Vaughn. "It takes us from the voyeuristic appeal at the beginning of the season to getting us to pause and think about who might be the 'real' freak -- what's so bad about being 'abnormal' or an anomaly?"

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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Cincinnati. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.