The Invisible Lady: Unveiling the Popular Attraction of the 19th Century

In the podcast episode, the host recounts the fascinating story of the Invisible Lady, a popular attraction in the 19th century. The Invisible Lady was a woman placed in a glass box, hidden from view, but still able to interact with the audience. Visitors would ask her questions and listen to her speak, even though she couldn't be seen. The story highlights the Victorian fascination with privacy and the treatment of women as objects to be hidden away from public view. The episode explores the connection between the cult of privacy and the right to privacy, as well as the role of technology, such as photography, telephone, and radio, in challenging the boundaries of privacy. Moreover, the podcast also delves into the landmark legal case on wiretapping and the dissenting opinion of Justice Brandeis, who argued for the protection of privacy against invasive technologies. Finally, the episode draws parallels to the present day with the introduction of virtual assistants like Alexa, raising questions about the trade-off between gaining knowledge and sacrificing privacy in the digital age.