Spectacle Vs Big Apple Circus

Spectacle comes from Middle English referring to a memorable event in a visual aspect. It is commonly looked at as the totality of the visual elements of a particular performance, embodying the basic values and societal ideals and dramatizing life controversies and struggles. In circuses, spectacle is used for different purposes in a variety of ways. Two major contemporary circus companies are the Big Apple Circus and the Circus of Oz. Both of these contemporary circus companies exhibit spectacle through different aspects of their companies. An element that the Big Apple Circus utilizes is ensemble work. An ensemble is present when the entertainers are contributing to the performance together. The Big Apple Circus also utilizes spectacle as an element of their contemporary circus. Spectacle is used primarily through visual and physical aspects of the performance when a specific action is being emphasized. A prime example of this is when the performers do tricks to catch the audience’s attention. This performance is all based on the presentation to the audience giving it a “showing” mode of engagement. The combination of these essential elements and “showing” mode of engagement, creates the circuses unique production and brand.

The Circus of Oz also utilizes complex music in their work, allowing the audience to get a better understanding of what is happening in the performance. For example, certain sounds occur in the music in order to emphasize a certain aspect of the performance. The beats of the music generally coincide with the actions of the performances. The music accompanies the entertainers which helps bring the performance together as a whole. The Circus of Oz uses a “showing” aspect to further exhibit their performance. Based on the “showing” feature and the two core components, the company builds its unique production of a circus