clowns 25 April 2009
I was reading old Sunday newspapers today (no, there is no end to my displacement activity, hence the avoidance of Twitter as discussed last night – I SO don’t need any extra right now) and in one of the old editions I came across news of an exhibition of photos of clowns. They terrify me. To be honest, I never saw a funny one in a circus and thought they were eejits too (and not in the correct, charming and lovable way – just annoying and stupid). As I got older a horror grew. They are, of course, a staple of the horror genre and who can forget Stephen King’s ‘Thing’*? I guess it’s the garish make-up and desperate smile slashed across the face. Add into that mix the Pierrot doll – also spooky as far as I am concerned. And it puts me right off going to Venice for Carnivale if everyone is in that kind of get-up. Oh, and I nearly forgot Mimes – again the make-up, the faux tear sometimes painted on the face – gimme a break. I would rather solder my retinas to the back of my head or iron my own legs than go to a mime show. In case any of you were wondering… *NOT a euphemism!
