Clowns

Ritual Clowning

Clowns are widely found in the ceremonies of communal societies, for example the Native American Hopi, Maidu, and Mayo-Yaqui peoples. In such ceremonies, the clown's contrary behavior (walking backward, talking gibberish, doing that which is usually unacceptable) is sanctioned by society. In this sense the clown fulfills a positive social role by facilitating the acknowledgement and expression of taboos without threatening the usual order. In such settings, the clowns wear masks or makeup, which separate them from their everyday selves and from their audience. The clown is both of and apart from the society within which it functions.

Circus Clowns

The traditional circus clown came into being in the mid-18th century in both Europe and the United States and by the end of the 19th century, two key clown types had been developed. These were the Auguste and the Whiteface. There is critical debate about the origin of the term Auguste but these clowns are widely recognized as incompetent and incapable. They are always the butt of the joke. Their clothing is typified by being ill fitting and gaudily colored. The Auguste clown, as the term is used now, wears brightly colored face paint, a wig or wild hair style, and the red nose. The Auguste usually works with the higher status Whiteface clown. This higher status is reflected in the Whiteface's elegant face makeup, smart, close-fitting costume, and neat conical hat. Together these two clowns formed the traditional circus double act that entertained the audience with status interplay, physical comedy, and incompetence. An entrée is the term given to the clown act that takes place between these two in the main circus ring. Other clowns, usually Augustes or Tramps (a variant on the Auguste distinguished by his shabby costume, painted-on stubble, and down-turned mouth) may appear as carpet clowns coming out of the ring and into the circus audience to cover the transitions between specialist acts in the ring. A further type of clown, the producing clown, developed in American three-ring circuses where the larger performance arena demanded larger visual gags. The circus clown has continued to develop in Nouveau Cirque since the 1970s and the traditional types are not so easily identified in newer circuses, but the typical clown behavior of tripping, falling, slipping, throwing food and water, and dropping props remains. In an echo of the earlier ritual clowning, circus clowns interrupt the ringmaster and parody other acts.

...