I Don't See the Big Deal

One word for you: Coulrophobia. 

In case you haven’t heard of this thing. It is simply the fear of clowns. This is a funny topic to me, because I personally don’t suffer from it. I figured since my last post was skirting around the different things that we as a society or culture might refer to as nightmare fuel, I might as well just feet first into something truly fascinating. Truth be told, someone very close to me does have a legitimate fear of clowns, but I have never known what it came from. I mean, I really don’t see the big deal.

How can this possibly be scary?

According to Wikipedia (which we all know is 100% believable), the term coulrophobia only started to appear in the 1980s, and has really only developed into the modern lexicon through its usage online. Bringing to the attention on whether this is a legitimate irrational fear or a made up irrational fear.

I think my head just exploded as I wrote that. Did I really just commit that sentence to paper? To the fray!

I should point out. I am NOT a psychologist, and I do not possess and degrees in psychology. This is a just an educated opinion and social commentary of this topic. Besides… lighten up!

Five Reasons Why the Fear of Clowns has Grown and is Perpetuated by Pop Culture

1. Clowns are a Popular Plot Device for Scary Stories

It is no secret that many scary stories use clowns as a plot device to make the unknown seem even more frightening. Stephen King popularized this trope with his iconic novel It. The popular thriller television series American Horror Story just recently had a “killer clown” as a character. To continue, there are many films where the villain wears a mask to hide his identity, but he isn't a clown specifically: Jason from Friday the 13th (hockey mask), Michael Myers from Halloween (plain white mask), Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as many others.

This guys looks like a plot device unto himself.

Even more famously, Batman’s ultimate nemesis is the clown prince of crime: The Joker. His portrayal has ranged from being a manic misfit, such as the original television series, Batman to a truly menacing agent of chaos, like Heath Ledger’s iconic performance in The Dark Knight.

This is so true!

Having a villain where his face is hidden really taps into a primal fear that exists within all of us. The unknown is always more frightening than the known, and a villain covering his face just makes it that much scarier. I really think that is what the appeal to using clowns as bad guys holds. Not only can you not see the face, but it is juxtaposed against an ideal that has traditionally been in settings that are meant to bring laughter or joy. With the brain trying to process what is unfamiliar and reversed, the viewer begins to gain a sense of uncomfortable dread. Much like what is caused when human perception enters into…

2. Clowns Enter into the Uncanny Valley Spectrum

 There it is again, that dang uncanny valley. It has been mentioned by “researchers” that because of clowns exaggerated features, determining a clown’s true emotions becomes difficult. Specifically, those who are afraid of clowns can’t tell if the clown is happy or if it is about to rip their face off. “Researchers” have also said that physical slapstick comedy that involves stunts that would normally cause pain confuse some people’s perception of the act because the clown’s face is painted with a smile while they are being “hurt.”

He's hurting me actually.

Now, from my previous entry, I talked on how the uncanny valley is becoming more and more acceptable by society with the over usage of CGI in movies, the inclusion of AI such as Siri in our phones, and dependence of robots in our day to day activities. So, why the hang up on clowns? Does it more fall into the “Zombie” realm of the dip? 

I couldn't really tell you… I’m not afraid of clowns, but I am terrified by some of those lifelike androids being cranked out of Hong Kong and Japan.

3. John Wayne Gacy

Pogo the Clown. I am not really going to give this man or what he did much attention. This was a sick man who did horrible things. It is not up to me to rehash or describe any of the monstrous things that this scumbag did, especially using a children’s character in the process. Google him if you must. 

The mere knowledge that there was a real life “Evil Clown” is enough to legitimize this fear, but let’s face it, we are talking about a fringe incident.

4. Clowns are Associated with Uncomfortable Circumstances

You know what movie I never really liked? Patch Adams. This is a stinker of a bio-pic that starred Robin Williams as a doctor who brought joy to his pediatric patients by dressing as a clown. The film currently holds a 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, this is one of those movies that either a) you have never seen, b) have no desire to see, or  c) regret seeing it in the first place. To those of you who enjoyed Patch Adams...my condolences.

Still though, while a certain amount of joy can be brought to a sick child through the use of clowns, I am going to touch on something different.

Who can remember going into the doctor as child, or parents, when can you think of the last time you took your child to the doctor – and saw this:

I really do actually love this icon.

This is Happy the Clown by Arthur Sarnoff. This image has been reproduced so many times and in so many forms, that it is a part of Americana. How is a child to feel if every time they get poked by a needle or need to get some nasty medicine, they see this image? Well, quite frankly, that image is going to be associated with the pain or discomfort.

I mean, I get it, but I don’t understand it.

5. There are No Reasons -  People Just Feel How they Feel

I guess that is it really. I just wanted to try and understand why this is.

Let me ask you a question reader: 

Are you afraid of clowns, yet you still read this?

Are you still scared of them?

Do you think that you could ever get over the fear?

At this point, are you getting irritated that I am just posting pictures of clowns for no reason or point what-so-ever?

I just don’t see the big deal.