“Freaky-deakies need love too!”

For those who do not watch 30 Rock, the above title is not as humour as it could be; for those of you who do watch the hilarity of Liz Lemon and her horde of co-workers, congratulations, you are currently viewing one of the most entertaining and witty comedies on television!

Okay… now on to what I’m really here to talk about! Freak-deakies, or rather, the London Dungeon.

Over the past few weeks, our Public History course has examined the role of the museum, looking at the history of museums, as well as exploring contemporary examples. In Tony Bennett’s The Birth of the Museum, he discusses the changing role of the museum from a carnival-like, freak show to the organized, sterile environment associated with some museum’s today. While I truly enjoy visiting a more conservative style of museum, such as the ROM or Museum London, the idea of a carnival-like, freak show is starting to appeal to me (perhaps it is the time of year, when papers, test and presentations are all piling up, revealing my inner freak!).

The London Dungeon (London, England) advertises: “transport yourself back to the darkest moments in the capital’s history within the deep depths of the London Dungeon. Live actors, shows, two rides and interactive special effect ensure that you face your fears head on.” For some, this sends off alarm bells since it sounds more like Fear Factor than a museum. Personally, I would agree, the London Dungeon does have Fear Factor or Magic Mountain type elements to it. For those who visit the London Dungeon (instead of visiting the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Tate Modern, The National Gallery, etc.) they are looking for something different - they are looking for something where they can take their thirteen year old, who is too cool for school, as well as their eleven year old, who could not be more disinterested in history or family gatherings as a whole.

People are going to the bloody, gory, thrill-driven London Dungeon to fulfill a different desire. Yet, in spite of this, the outcome is very different from what one might think. Having been to the London Dungeon, I believe it is impossible to leave, without some senses of ‘a’ history. Not only can you seek thrilling rides, but you can also go to numerous exhibits on torture, which is a very true and gruesome part of British history. You can also learn about the losses of the Great Fire of London, the horrors of the Great Plague and the malicious killings of Jack the Ripper. While you are there, a ‘reaper’ like guide, who informs you about such things as torture devices and historic diseases, can escort you around the site. They explain the who's, the how’s and the when’s of a lot of the exhibits. For me, this is all history, even if it is served with a side of shock value and a handful of pyrotechnics.

The way we present history is changing! Museums like the London Dungeon are challenging the way we currently view a museum, and just like all good and bad things in life, there has to be a happy medium between conflicting sides or ideas. The London Dungeon is a balancing act within itself, presenting gruesome history, to the widest audience, in a thrill driven atmosphere – and by widest audience, I mean huge! The London Dungeon brings in thousands of visitors a year and has even recently been awarded London’s Visitor Attraction of the Year and the Best Tourism Experience. With this, many people are experiencing the doom and gloom of historic London and I would be surprised if several did not go away with a greater desire to learn more about the history of torture. Taking this further, I would argue that many leave with a keener interest in history itself. The London Dungeon has taken an exciting, historic truth and turned it into a great attraction - and what a great city to be left in, when your new found spark for history sets in. Leaving the depths and shadows of the London Dungeon, you can be inside the Museum of Technology, the Saachi Gallery or the Tower of London in minutes!

Overall, I feel that museums such as the London Dungeon have an important role to play, as do more conservative ones. Even if the London Dungeon only transforms a few sceptical teenagers, children or adults, into future history enthusiasts, the goal (for me, as a Public Historian) has been achieved.