Discussions
I'm a clown, ask me questions
Posted by IanThal • 7/05/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Acting, circus, clown, clowning, commedia dell'arte, mime, theatre
Twice since May I have seen discussion topics about the fear or hostility towards clowns. I am a clown, and normally I'm quite friendly (opinionated maybe, but I am friendly.)
In the interest of educating the blogcatalog community about clowns and clowning in a friendly manner, I invite you to ask away:
User Comments
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Ummm...
Clowns are just creepy!
IDK why.
What makes a monster scary? lol-
Ask a monster.
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how did clowns develop through history-
Clowns have been around for thousands of years. There's no quick answer to that question. But this is a fine and entertaining introduction to the history of clowning in comic book form:
"The History of Clowns for Beginners" by Joe Lee
www.amazon.com/Clowns-Beginners-Writers-Readers-Documentary/dp/0863161995
I recently picked up a history of clowning at a yard sale: "Here Come the Clowns" by Lowell Swortzell with illustrations by C. Walter Hodges. which was published in 1978 but is out of print.
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I don't think it's anything to do with personality - but more so to do with the scaring of young minds with clown based horror flicks - skeazy "birthday party clowns" that may or may not be reputable, and the fact that a clowns face is totally covered, and sometimes sinister looking.
But here's a question:
At what point in history did clowns go from adult entertainment to "kid friendly" entertainment, and why? I was always under the impression that much like cartoons, fairy tales and the like, clowns were never intended to be paraded out for children, but were for adults with adult connotations instead.
Am I right?-
One word - “IT”
That movie ruined it for all clowns - good or bad.
If I remember my history correctly, clowns originated from theater/opera - and it was only adults who went to the theater.
So yes - when did clowns become entertainment for children?
And - Am I the only one that thinks they are creepy? -
No, I am terrified of them! They give me the heebie-jeebies!
Poltergeist was another movie that did clowns in. Remember that clown toy under the bed that grabbed the kids? Yeah, I refused to get on or off my bed normally for MONTHS after I saw that movie. I used to stand up on my bed, and run and LEAP of the bed so that nothing could get me
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LOL
Watch Scary Movie (not sure which one - maybe 2).
They get revenge on that clown - In the worst way.
ROTFL -
"At what point in history did clowns go from adult entertainment to "kid friendly" entertainment, and why? I was always under the impression that much like cartoons, fairy tales and the like, clowns were never intended to be paraded out for children, but were for adults with adult connotations instead."
Good question, Anok. I don't think the difference between "kid friendly" and "adult entertainment" existed until the 20th century. Clowns performed for all ages and parents took kids to see "serious entertainment" as well. Remember that the puritans weren't against theatre that was "bad for children"-- they were against all theatre.
Clowning became "for kids" about the same time as "serious drama" was designated for adults and determined to be "bad for kids." -
Hmmm, that's interesting - was there a mass transformation in clowning, because of this though?
I mean, did they sugar coat them like they did with fairy tales? -
"I mean, did they sugar coat them like they did with fairy tales?"
Pretty much. The other option was to go to adolescent gross out humor. Compare the subversiveness and sophistication of the Marx Brothers (which appealed to both children and adults) with the dumbed down fart jokes of Farley Brothers' movies or Adam Sandler, which only appeals to teenagers. -
Adam Sandler is a clown?
HA!!!
That explains so much.
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Ah, yes - what wonderful forms of entertainment (I'm talking potty humor here not Marx Brothers )
Oi. -
Adam Sandler is a very crude substitute for clowning.
But to further answer Anok's question-- the Pee-Wee Herman character is a brilliant example of a popular television clown who was enjoyed by both children and adults. -
Ummm...
Pee Wee Herman scared me too. -
So...
I guess the big question is..
What's the difference between a clown and a comedian?
Is it the physical comedy vs the verbal comedy? : / -
"What's the difference between a clown and a comedian?"
Comedian is a general catagory. Clown is a specific subset.
Better: Some comedians only tell jokes. Clowns are a type of comedian who enact the joke. -
Ah!
Very good.
Thanks for the explanation.
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Do mimes have souls, and are they exiled clowns?
Also, do you feel pain when someone steps on your big floppy shoes?
And why do clowns waste pie? Where I come from, pies are for consumption. They are not meant to be thrown at people.-
I've got this one!
It is a common misconception that clowns use real pies.
This is folly!
The use shaving cream.
Ha - even I know that. -
"Do mimes have souls, and are they exiled clowns?"
Do bloggers have souls? Sorry, I'm not a theologian.
"do you feel pain when someone steps on your big floppy shoes?"
The actor does not. The character played by the actor does.
"And why do clowns waste pie? Where I come from, pies are for consumption. They are not meant to be thrown at people."
Clowns are often very impractical when it comes to food.
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I apologize, in advance, for not posing a "real "question. My parents do not find clowns to be "creepy or scary but I do. As a child I had the distinct impression that clowns at kids parties and exhibitions were hostile towards children, that their laughter was phony and I noticed that they singled out kids who didn't laugh at their antics, like me, for ridicule. There are so many of my own generation who are put off by clowns that I wonder what happened between those generations.
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I'm sorry.
That doesn't mean all clowns are bad.
There was probably just a miserable human being under that costume.
Life goes on.
Just...stay away from clowns in general and you'll be ok. -
"I had the distinct impression that clowns at kids parties and exhibitions were hostile towards children,"
Birthday party clowns do not always have the same level of training or professionalism as circus and theatrical clowns. Sometimes, they aren't genuine clowns, but rather teenagers wearing a costume and not realizing that clowning is hard work.
Remember that not everyone dressed as a clown is a clown.
I get along fine with children. In fact, I teach at a youth circus:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2007/08/teaching-commedia-at-open-air-circus.html
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AHHH!!!
ROTFL
Good one Uri! lol
High five! -
Oh, yeah, thanks a lot Uri
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Am I going to Hell?
Yesh - now I'm scared.
I'm freakin out!
The clowns are coming.
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OMG - it's House.
Yikes -
woops wrong spot.
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What made you go this route, Ian? Answer with a link if you want.
(edit: And no Duke. You are not allowed to answer this one.)-
He was fooled. Somebody told him it's a great way to meet beautiful women.
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My training began as a mime-- initially with the idea of doing some avant-garde performance art. Which I did with the group Cosmic Spelunker Theater:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2008/04/cosmic-spelunker-theatre-reunion.html
ianthal.blogspot.com/2008/05/cosmic-spelunker-bootleg.html
From there I started taking a more satirical bent:
www.providencephoenix.com/theater/other_stories/documents/04092613.asp
And that led to my rediscovery of my love for the Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2007/05/back-in-greasepaint-again.html
Vaudeville:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2008/06/mime-at-somervaudeville.html
And the traditional Itallian form of commedia dell'arte:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2007/06/i-sebastiani-in-washington-dc.html
ianthal.blogspot.com/2008/04/formaggio-di-amore.html -
Buster Keaton was a great silent movie star. I believe the movie is called "the General"... its a fav of mine. He has such great subtle expressions in his face. yet great slapstick in the body. (and he did all of his own stunts!)
-- its pretty cool if you studied Buster IanThai
update:
man their has gotta be some better clips of the great "stone Face" clown...
This is the best i could find from the "general":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TMjTVeVHtk -
Keaton is one of my favorites. I love "The General" though I never quite feel comfortable with the confederate flag waving scenes.
Still, I have what I call "Buster Keaton moments" which is just this zen-like state when one just can do something physically phenomenal. -
I don't get it...
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Ian, have you thought about doing one of those "pillar posts" with "deep links" that timethief likes to talk about?
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@ dukepro..no good video on youtube on Keaton, sorry. Rent the movie the "general" you'll laugh, or be amazed.
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Ok!
For a second there I thought my funny bone was broken. lol -
What's a pillar post? I always link my articles to one another.
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I don't know if it's a generally accepted term or one that timethief coined, but here's her take on it: onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/blogging-characteristics-of-pillar-pos...
It doesn't quite apply to you, but I could see it working at some point. If I ever get more regular on Clio and Me, I might use this kind of thing to pull different posts together into a more coherent whole. -
I was about the give that link.
and i do not want to divert the thread.
however your blog is somewhat unique in subject. You can increase your traffic. and make an unusual and interesting blog more visible for people to find. It your blog of course, but I love to find blogs that have different story to tell. -
I have a few "pillar posts" then-- although those particular posts have tended to spawn sequels in my case.
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Ian, is this your main career and if so would you say that being a full-time clown is a good career choice?-
It's a good career but the company car is awful. -
"Ian, is this your main career[?]"
Do you mean do I make my sole living at clowning? No. But clowning isn't the only artform I practice either. I'm also an actor, dancer, puppeteer, and playwright.
"would you say that being a full-time clown is a good career choice?"
I have a friend who is a clown full-time. He gets to travel all around the world. It works well for him. But, it's like most jobs in the arts-- financially not the most rewarding, but rewarding in every other way-- but it also demands a lot of discipline. -
"It's a good career but the company car is awful."
A few weeks ago we (i Sebastiani-- isebastiani.com ) were doing a show and afterwards somebody asked how we managed to fit all of us backstage.
I responded: "It was easy: that's where we parked the car."
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Today's blog entry is basically photographs of some of the masks I made for the class I teach in commedia dell'arte, which is a traditional form of Italian clown theatre with masks:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2008/07/ian-capocomico.html
Last year I wrote something about teaching this class:
ianthal.blogspot.com/2007/08/teaching-commedia-at-open-air-circus.html -
Who let this clown in here... -
The clown lets himself in except when he's expected to let himself in-- then he waits.
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after a long day making kids laugh and all, what makes a clown laugh?
reruns of IT?
polio?
save the children ads?
what? what? what?-
I can only speak for myself. I find all the classic film clowns I praised earlier hilarious.
I'm also a big fan of "The Daily Show with John Stewart", "The Colbert Report", and "Futurama."
Shakespeare is pretty funny too-- until somebody gets killed.
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I keep coming back to this thread trying to think of something to say besides, "Why?" , but it's not working. The whole title just seems rather bizzare-o to me.-
I think I was very clear as to why I opened this discussion. Please read from the beginning.
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No, I mean WHY are you a clown? That's all I can think of...
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Ian,
What was it that intrigued you in wanting to become a mine and then a clown?
And is there anyone else in your family that also does the same thing and enjoys it as much as you do?-
"What was it that intrigued you in wanting to become a mine and then a clown?"
I think this was a question that MarkStoneman asked earlier (which I answered above.) But more deeply (since my academic training was in philosophy) mime addresses certain philosophical interests I have about the body, the self, and the mind-- while clowning addresses certain philosophical interests I have in the absurdity.
"And is there anyone else in your family that also does the same thing and enjoys it as much as you do?"
No, no-one in my family is in the performing arts, though my father had a fondness for politically-themed pranks that rubbed off on me as my sense of humor developed. Though I tend to have more of an absurdist, and gallows-humor streak.
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is it true that clowns have cotton candy where their souls should be?-
The location of the soul is a matter for theologians-- ask one.
All I know is that I have no cotton candy and I have no idea what you mean by "soul."
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In older cultures, entertainers (similar to clowns) would be brought in front of Kings and leaders. If they were entertaining they got to live. If they were boring, well often the got axed.
Do you still feel this kind of pressure?-
"Do you still feel this kind of pressure?"
No. Because my mime teacher also taught karate.
"If they were entertaining they got to live. If they were boring, well often the got axed."
But in fairness to historical accuracy, that's probably a myth. There may have been a few i kings who in retrospect we might term "psychopaths," it's more likely that if the king didn't find the clown funny, the clown got another job elsewhere-- maybe with a lord who did find him funny.
In addition, by the mid-to-late-1500s the Italian commedia dell'arte troupes were so popular that every royal or princely court wanted to play host to the clowns as they were the equivalent of rock-stars in that era. Even if commedia wasn't your main interest, if you were a prince, you wanted to be seen as friends with the actors who played Arlecchino or Pulcinella. -
If there was an instance of violence against a clown-- it was more likely because of political content, not for not being funny. We need only look at the violence directed against the family of Nobel prize winning Italian clown and playwright, Dario Fo, whose wife, the actress (and now Senator) Franca Rame was abducted and raped by a fascist paramilitary associated with the Italian military police forces in 1973 (she wrote a one-act solo play about the experience.)
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