CLOWNS ARE NOT FUNNY - THEY ARE DEEPLY SINISTER...
There. I said it. I'm not sure who ever thought men dressed in bulbous shoes with big noses, wild hair and squirty flowers would ever be funny, but he was no doubt demented. Still we are lulled into believing this great lie; we are taken to circuses and encouraged to laugh at the clowns until we wet ourselves (well when we are infants anyhow).
We have a fixed smile even though deep inside we are feeling uneasy not to mention queasy. We turn to our parents, unsure, questioning how such macabre creatures can really be our happy friends, and they turn to us, smiling and clapping and thus perpetrating the great lie that has been passed down from generation to generation - namely that clowns are jovial and funny.
Recently reports of fake clowns engaging in acts of violence in France have undermined the faux feelgood feeling clowns were supposed to give us.
ABC reported on how pranksters dressed as evil clowns have turned up in French cities, some armed with knives, guns and baseball bats. It's part of a trend that started in California a few weeks ago in which scary clowns spooked passersby.
Now the World Clown Association is concerned the trend is giving clowns a bad rap. "People dressed as horror clowns are not real clowns," pointed out president elect Randy Christensen.
This is true unless you believe real clowns are horrific and many people do. There's even a word for a fear of clowns. It's Coulrophobia. Clowns even have their own serial killer, and not a very nice one at that; although, by their nature, serial killers don't tend to be pleasant.
Pogo the clown
Nevertheless, John Wayne Gacy was prolific even for a serial killer. The "killer clown" murdered at least 33 young men and boys. Gacy would dress as "Pogo the clown" - a character he devised himself - at children's parties and charity fundraisers.
Makes me glad we only had lame magicians at children's parties when I was growing up.
AAAAAAAH! Those pictures are so freaky. I heard about the clowns in California. Some people need to get a better hobby. When I was a kid there was a host on a local TV movie show who dressed as a clown. He seemed friendly enough, but I always wondered why he needed to be dressed as a clown to host the movie program. His name was Flippo the Clown and his show was out of Columbus, Ohio. He made me a little uneasy. :D
ReplyDeleteyes Flippo out of Columbus would make me uneasy too Daisy lol
DeleteI have never, ever enjoyed clowns, even as a child - they always frightened me. Today, it's much worse because of all the horror surrounding them! Puppets, talking animals, zombies - they all fall into the same category for me! Creepy, frightening, and truly horrible!
ReplyDeleteThey are icky, nasty and scary - thanks for checking in on the blog again Yolanda
DeleteI hate clowns and I never thought about it but you are so right, who on earth thought this was a good idea in the first place?? I can't believe there is a World Clown Association but just the idea of their meetings gives me chills. I'm also like Yolanda - I hate puppets too. Hand puppets are cute but marionettes are creepy as hell and ventriloquist dummies are even worse.
ReplyDeleteOh for real Julie - ventriloquists are well scary...
DeleteSome places have banned people in clown costumes in the street, and shops have reported selling out of clown costumes. It's not over yet...
ReplyDeleteOnly in France would there be a clown epidemic of this magnitude I would imagine Sarah...
Deleteglad to see it followed through :)
ReplyDeleteWell Pogo is enough to turn the world against clowns. Nonetheless, I feel badly for the few decent clowns that attempt to bring cheer.
ReplyDeleteBe well, David. Hope it was a great Halloween for you and yours.
Hey Robyn - hope you had a good one. Yep I guess a mass murderer tends to give clowns a bad name :)
DeleteI had to laugh at Jules' comment: who the heck thought clowns were a good idea??? Amen, sister. :-) Plus, imagining their organizational meeting, while they're attired in full clowny kit just staggers the imagination, doesn't it??? :-D
ReplyDeleteSo, David, as a friend I feel I should warn you NOT to watch the current season of American Horror Story:Freak Show, which prominently featured a murderous clown. You're welcome.
ALSO, NY had its brush with the horrifying things this summer!
Hey Mina - How are you? I'll check it out. Yes I guess someone at some crazy time must have thought they were a good idea but really...
Delete