Circus and Society in Catalonia: Realities and Challenges after the Turn of the Century

Authors

  • Xavier Barral Institut d'Estudis Catalans

Keywords:

animals in circus, APCC, Circ Cric, circus festivals, circus history, Catalan language in circus

Abstract

In the early 21st century, circus, in the widest sense of the concept (that in- cludes artists, impresarios, ring staff and audience), is facing challenges of all kinds: on the one hand, those of culture in general, artistic creation and the global consideration of circus within society; on the other, the effects of the time in which we live. The diversification of genres and traditions has affected the forms and structuring of shows. This article presents these issues that affect society’s perception of circus today. It examines the co- existence between traditional small travelling shows and big multinational spectacles, between small festivals and major historic international festivals such as those in Monte Carlo or Budapest and, in Catalonia, Reus (Trapezi) and Girona (Elefant d’Or), the latter now expanded with the circus museum, Circusland, in Besalú. Moreover, it also analyses the balances between the more local festivals, between fixed, stable, permanent circuses and the more occasional shows. Two aspects deserve increased attention: the

Author Biography

Xavier Barral, Institut d'Estudis Catalans

Professor of History of Art, member of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, Xavier Barral holds a PhD in History of Art and Archaeology from Sorbonne University (Paris) and was profes- sor of History of Medieval Art at the same university (1974-1981). He is currently professor of History of Art and Archaeology at the University of Rennes. He was director of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) between 1991 and 1994. Moreover, in 1992 he became a member of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans. He is also Vice-President of the Universitat Catalana d’Estiu.

Published

20-12-2024