Professional Fart Artists: A History
Farting as an art form — sounds absurd, but it is a centuries-old tradition. Professional fart artists, who play melodies with bodily gases, entertain audiences, or simply earn money with acrobatic volume performances, have been documented since the Middle Ages. From medieval court jesters to modern internet entertainers: the history of paid fart art is surprisingly rich.
Middle Ages: The Court Jester as Fart Artist
In medieval Europe, flatulence humor was a recognized entertainment medium at court. Historical records document that Roland le Fartere — an English court jester of the 12th century — received land in Suffolk from King Henry II in exchange for performing 'a jump, a whistle, and a fart' before the royal court each Christmas. This curious deed of grant has been preserved and is considered the earliest documented case of paid fart artistry. The performance was part of the ritual entertainment at court — and the land grant remained in Roland's family for generations.
Le Pétomane: The King of All Fart Artists
The absolute pinnacle of professional fart artistry was Joseph Pujol (1857–1945), who under the stage name 'Le Pétomane' ('the fart maniac') became one of the most famous entertainers of Belle Époque France. Pujol performed at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and earned more there than the then superstar singer Sarah Bernhardt. He could voluntarily draw air in and out through the anus, which allowed him to play songs, blow out flames (through a tube), and imitate various animals. His medically unique talent lay in controlling his pelvic floor and abdominal muscles so that he could inhale air and expel it with precise pressure — without any gastrointestinal gas production. Le Pétomane has his own article in this encyclopedia.
Mr. Methane: Modern Fart Artist
British comedian Paul Oldfield has been performing under the name 'Mr. Methane' since the 1980s. Like Le Pétomane, he masters voluntary intestinal air suction and has performed on television shows (including in Germany on Stefan Raab's TV Total), on stages worldwide, and in commercials. Mr. Methane describes his talent as accidentally discovered — he noticed as a child that he could 'inhale' air — and spent years perfecting the ability. He has his own website, a merchandise range, and considers himself Le Pétomane's successor. His repertoire includes musical pieces, sound imitations, and comedy acts.
Internet Age: Farting as Content
With the rise of YouTube and later TikTok, new career opportunities emerged for fart artists. Channels like 'Mr. T Bag' and various anonymous fart accounts reached millions of subscribers. The phenomenon shows how entertainment formats shift: what once required a stage performance now works as short-form video content. Particularly successful are compilations, prank videos, and videos featuring reactions to unexpected farts. Some creators additionally monetize through merchandise or live appearances. The cultural value is debated — but the numbers are real: fart content consistently has high engagement rates, especially with male viewers under 25.
Did you know?
- Roland le Fartere received land in Suffolk in the 12th century because he performed a fart before King Henry II each Christmas.
- Le Pétomane earned more at the Moulin Rouge than Sarah Bernhardt — through pure fart artistry.
- Mr. Methane from Great Britain appeared on Stefan Raab's TV Total and is the most famous living fart artist.
- Le Pétomane produced no gastrointestinal gas — he voluntarily inhaled air and expelled it in a controlled manner.
Fun Fact
Le Pétomane was so famous that he was referred to in the Parisian press as 'the greatest phenomenon in medical history'. Scientists from the University of Paris requested an examination — and actually documented his unique ability for voluntary pelvic floor control. The medical report concluded that his sphincter was extraordinarily well developed muscularly. Pujol declined lucrative offers from the United States and remained in France until his retirement.
Sources
- Nohain, J. & Caradec, F. (1967). Le Pétomane. Sherbourne Press.
- Bayless, J. (1985). A Jest-Book of the Middle Ages. Harvard University Press.
- Oldfield, P. (2001). The Amazing Mr. Methane. Headline Book Publishing.