Clowns: Matthew's Paper

Here is a paper I wrote for Senior Thesis class, for your viewing pleasure.
This is a rough draft.


Matthew

Mr. Buck

Senior Thesis

31 October 2007

Clowns

What has a white face, a red nose, and a bad haircut? No, it’s not a scared drunkard with an incompetent barber. It’s a clown! Clowns twist balloons, act silly and generally amuse people. Most people like clowns, but some people actually fear or hate them (Evil Clowns). Clowns are often a part of circuses, shows, drama, and birthday parties. The history of clowning began in early Egypt, and clowns have played an important role in theater and show business ever since.
The history of clowning may have begun as early as 2500 BC, when a clown is supposed to have performed in Egypt. The earliest clowns probably existed as court jesters; they were found not only in the courts of Europe, but in those of China and even the Aztec Nation. Jesters were kept in the courts of kings to provide amusement; however, jesters could have a great influence on national policies. Sometimes, the jester was the only one who could get away with criticizing the king or disobeying him. Thus, some jesters, by virtue of having a degree of leniency in the king’s eyes, have saved lives and altered the course of history.
Clowns also found their way onto the stage. In ancient Greece and early Rome, clowns began to develop as foolish characters who were the brunt of the jokes and abuse
(A Brief History of Clowning). The clown character was further developed through the Commedia del Arte, a theatrical group that began in Italy, and spread throughout Europe. It was in the Commedia del Arte that the traditional Harlequin (joker) came into being (Johnson). There were many traveling shows and theatrical groups, but the first bona fide circus didn’t appear until 1768 (Raymond).
The circus was introduced in England by Philip Astley. In this circus, he also created the first circus clown act, called Billy Buttons, in which the unfortunate clown had great difficulty in riding a horse. This act has become traditional in all circuses (Raymond). Circuses became sort of the ultimate traveling show, effectively replacing the traveling entertainment troupes of the Medieval and Renaissance time periods. The first known female American clown was Amelia Butler, who performed with Nixon’s Great American Circus and Kemp’s Mammoth English Circus in 1858 (Raymond). As clowns became more integrated into shows and acts, certain definite character types developed.
The three main types of clowns are the Whiteface, Auguste, and Tramp characters. The Whiteface clown is the most refined of the three types. They have all visible skin covered with white makeup, and are generally much more coordinated and stylish in appearance that the Auguste or Tramp clowns. The Auguste clown is the most ludicrous and comical of clowns; Auguste clowns are clumsy, foolish and bumbling. They wear silly, outrageous clothes, and are often the brunt of the joke. The Tramp clown is the down-and-out bum. Usually downtrodden and silent, he gets kicked around, and nothing ever goes right for him; he just accepts it as his lot in life (Montgomery).
Emmett Kelly Sr. was a famous example of a Tramp clown. He was born in Kansas, and began performing in the circus as a trapeze artist, and occasionally as a Whiteface clown. He tried to introduce a Tramp clown character called Weary Willy, but the circus management discouraged the idea because they thought the Tramp character too scruffy and dirty. During the Great Depression, however, the Tramp character held much more appeal for the common people, and Weary Willy became famous worldwide (Raymond).
Otto Greibling was another famous clown. Born in Germany, he started performing with the circus in America as a bareback rider. He was also a Tramp clown; however, he did only silent performances. Ironically, when he had to have his larynx removed at age 70, he performed the remaining two years of his life silently, on and off of the stage
(1989 inductees Clown Hall of Fame). Some other famous clowns include Lou Jacobs, famous for his silly antics, John Wayne Gacy, famous as an artist and serial killer, and Red Skelton, famous as Freddy the Freeloader, a Tramp clown (Famous clowns).
There is another group of clowns that receive less recognition, but perhaps deserve more. Rodeo clowns are the comic relief in rodeos, where there is a lot of intense action and violence; the clowns play an important part. In fact, a bad rodeo clown can overshadow a lot of good riding; the clown makes or breaks the rodeo. Traditionally, rodeo clowns have had the purpose of distracting the bull in the event that a rider should become endangered; the clown would buy time for the downed rider to reach safety. Now, for the most part, professional bullfighters, sort of like matadors, have taken on that job, leaving the clowns for entertainment value. Rodeo clowns often resemble Auguste clowns in make-up style; in clothing they usually wear exaggerated cowboy clothes, and sometimes a barrel (Rodeo clowns).
Clearly, from the early Egyptians, throughout the rise and fall of dynasties and kingdoms, from age to age, clowns have played an invaluable role in society. Jesters have altered the fate of individuals and nations. Clowns, acting the buffoon, have provided the comic relief in plays since plays began. Bards, minstrels and traveling performers have provided much-needed entertainment in remote communities. In a world that God has conquered, “The righteous shall are bold as a lion,” and we, like God, can laugh at all our foes, which include anxiety and dullness (Proverbs 28:1). The power to amuse is a gift of God, which clowns have put to good use.