"LE PETOMANE"

Joseph Pujol

             I bought a book on this man when but an art student at Leicester and decided he was a great artist. I was studying the turn of the century Surrealists and Dadaists especially Duchamp and Picabia and Man Ray which inevitably led towards studies in the more obscure figures of the period like Arthur Cravan, Alfred Jarry and Le Petomane caught my eye. Would than he had caught my ear too!

This from a favourite blog curated by a fantastic hospice nurse (Haley) who enjoys similar tastes . . . . . . . . . 

Le Pétomane

Le Pétomane was the stage name of the French flatulist (professional farter) and entertainer Joseph Pujol (June 1, 1857–1945). He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to seem to fart at will. His stage name combines the French verb péter, “to fart” with the -mane, “-maniac” suffix, which translates to “fartomaniac”. The profession is also referred to as “flatulist”, “farteur”, or “fartiste”.

It is a common misconception that Joseph Pujol actually passed intestinal gas as part of his stage performance. Rather, Pujol was able to “inhale” or move air into his rectum and then control the release of that air with his anal sphincter muscles. Evidence of his ability to control those muscles was seen in the early accounts of demonstrations of his abilities to fellow soldiers.

Check out her blog over on tumblr its SOOOO cool! 

The Odd Side of Me blog