That was an amazing story, but what happened, it finished very abruptly with no mention of any follow up.
I take it Huang Chuncai is still awaiting further surgery, surely there will be a follow up 'bodyshock' (if the family allow) to tell of his further progress?
i found it very humbling and got upset at times whilst watching it
ive been looking for an update on google to see how he is. this first operation they showed was last july and he had a second operation in january but i cant find anything saying how he is now
just a quick post to let you all know that you can find out more about I Am The Elephant Man: A Bodyshock Special (Channel 4 Monday 7 April 9pm) at:
Why do TV stations broadcast this hideous personal tragedy???
I've not seen the programme because I am disturbed by the way that TV uses other peoples tragedy just to improve 'viewer ratings' to increase the 'advertisement takings'!!!
Yes, I have seen the 'trailer' to this programme and it was broadcast at a time that my grandchildren were watching TV!! I had one HELL of a time explaining to them why some people are compromised with these afflictions and I am not sure that I've convinced them that it wont happen to them!!
Why DO you advertise 'horror trailers' of an 'age sensitive nature' during children's 'watching time'?
I totally agree suricat! I shudder to think what someone could get out of watching these Victorian side shows, but surely discretion could be used in the placement of the trailers!!
I was profoundly moved by the programme, but I too was surprised that it ended so abruptly, with no information as to how Huang got on subsequently.
Calling the documentary a 'Freak Show' seems to be less than respectful to Huang and the terrible suffering he must have endured practically his whole life, with the poverty and the misery of his struggling and anxious family to cope with as well. It was very painful to watch, and surely a reminder of how utterly dreadful human experience can be; yet Huang hung on to life and wanted to carry on.
Is there anyone collecting for Huang and his family in the UK? I would have imagined that a number of viewers would have wanted to try to help in some way. There doesn't seem to be any link on the C4 website to enable people to make donations.
Originally posted by mufcdiver: I totally agree suricat! I shudder to think what someone could get out of watching these Victorian side shows, but surely discretion could be used in the placement of the trailers!!
Its not like the Victorian days they are showing the man being helped .Hope he get more help.
I used to have an open mind ..but my brains kept falling out
Is there anyone collecting for Huang and his family in the UK? I would have imagined that a number of viewers would have wanted to try to help in some way. There doesn't seem to be any link on the C4 website to enable people to make donations.
????? Can we help??
I used to have an open mind ..but my brains kept falling out
Dear C4 Editor, I was wondering if you have access to a reliable contact address where people could somehow make donations to at least help Huang and his family with their material circumstances a little. It would have been great if a fund had been set up that was accessible from your website. It is so frustrating to only be able to observe and not respond. I am not a wealthy man, but I am sure a number of your viewers would have been generous or even wealthy and generous people who might have been willing to give something to help the family in their dire poverty. It feels a bit like an opportunity lost.
Hello folks, We’ve seen all your questions and we’re enjoying all the debate this programme has provoked. Please give us a little while to see if we can find some answers for you. Cheers.
Originally posted by The TV Show: Hello folks, We’ve seen all your questions and we’re enjoying all the debate this programme has provoked. Please give us a little while to see if we can find some answers for you. Cheers.
Thanks
I would like to know how he got on and if he had more operations . Would also like to help the family we are not well off but are rich compared to them
I used to have an open mind ..but my brains kept falling out
I agress with malibu stacey, was it really necassary to show the pig being killed? It didnt add anything to the topic, it wasnt even relevent.It left me and my family extremly upset. They gave a warning or surgeory, but not that an animal was going to be barbaricly killed! Also they said the elephant man was Joseph Merick when it was acually John.
I was profoundly moved by this film and cannot help but wonder if those calling it a 'freak show' actually bothered to watch it. 'Freak shows' are exploitative by nature; this documentary was not.
It was far more than an examination of Huang's medical condition; it was a portrait of the despair, frustration, hope and isolation that comes with living with such an extreme disability.
Like others here, I would love to be able to help Huang and his family in some way, and find out how he is doing now.
Just like to point out that Joseph or John Merrick did not just have Neurofirbromatosis. I believe he also had another syndrone as well. Also for anyoneworried about it not everyone with Neurofibromatosis is effected as badly as poor Huang. I have the condition and am relativly uneffected.
I hadn't seen any trailer on this programme and just tuned in. I am a bit squeamish watching operations etc but watched it right through. This young man just accepted his deformaties and seemed to be more concerned about being able to help his parents. It was so moving and any amount of money won't compensate for the way he is but will certainly help. I am glad Gary brought that up about sending money as I would gladly.
I found the programme extremely moving and wish Huang and his family all the best. However, the pig slaughter was completely disgraceful.
It is sad really that this topic almost distracts us from the real motive of the program, the life saving operation for Huang, so why is there a need to show it?
Personally i am not affected by films of a gory nature, and was not affected by the operation, however this part had me with my hands over my ears. It ruined a perfectly constructed documentary for me.
Originally posted by clad9: Just like to point out that Joseph or John Merrick did not just have Neurofirbromatosis. I believe he also had another syndrone as well. Also for anyoneworried about it not everyone with Neurofibromatosis is effected as badly as poor Huang. I have the condition and am relativly uneffected.
I have seen pictures of Joseph Merrick and read the book it does not seem quite the same . That poor man was shown as a freak for a large part of his life .
I used to have an open mind ..but my brains kept falling out
I have to say that I agree with other commentators that the slaughter of the pig was horrific, and I wish it had not been included in the documentary. All the scene did was to mirror and add to the existential horror at the misery experienced by living beings, be they human or non-human, and I think that viewers' sense of this was probably already stark enough.
