“Okay, I’ll bite. What IS ‘Clown’?” A playful primer (on clown) from a clown (who’s full of nonsense)
People frequently ask me, “What’s ‘clown’?”, and I find it challenging to respond to this question because:
IDK what clown is, and …
I don’t want to be seen as the sole authority on the subject because …
I am full of nonsense.
[A photo by Todd Kremer showing Alice as College the Clown rubbing butter on Thanksgiving Turkey during Soleil Kohl’s 2024 A Clown Slop Clownsgiving show in Boulder, Colorado.]
As I present my new clown show “Meat Show in Space” to those who might not know much about clowning, I’ve gathered some insightful resources to provide a clearer perspective on this art form. Below are some well-researched articles that delve into the definition and origins of clowning:
Further reading:
These resources are a valuable primer on how I’d like to convey my own particular perspective on this unique art form to others. In other words, these folks have articulated the art of clowning and its historical context more effectively than I can!
“But what do YOU think!?”
If you’ve ever laughed at Andy Kaufman’s lip-syncs, recreated Lucille Ball’s sketches or cringed at Eric Andre’s interviews, you’re primed: you already know the power of clown. At the moment, I think of clowning more visually like this: when a clown stands on stage, they use whatever they have, whether it’s a crayon, a piece of chalk or a bar of soap, to outline their physicality and their feelings live in front of an audience as clearly as possible (sort of like that one bathroom mirror scene in The Truman Show).
Wow, look at this metaphor of laying yourself bare while performing for others and being vulnerable and holding a miRRoR uP 2 sOciEtY so everyone can collectively experience their own humanity while being surrounded by others ... so clown … so wow !
Everyone in the room has to have a clear visual of what the clown wants them to see. The clown must always have something to show you because …
The clown is obvious.
The clown is attention-seeking.
The clown is a child and a trickster.
Live on stage, a clown handcrafts their absurd perspective on life using humor, vulnerability and a lot of uncomfortable eye contact. Sure, it might involve their most favorite cheap trick like slipping on a banana peel or punctuating a moment with a well-timed wet fart, but beneath the surface of that slippery wet banana fart lies a deeper message—perhaps a hint of disdain, a touch of love, or maybe a desperate need to find a bathroom.
Clowning is the art of holding up a mirror to society and inviting the audience to laugh at themselves while they’re simultaneously realizing and recognizing their own contours of their shared humanity in the clown's unfiltered and raw moments on stage. Imagine being at a show and a performer’s attempt to make a banana fart on stage has you suddenly thinking “omg same”. It’s nonsense, and it’s real (for you and for the clown)! Great clowns transform the nonsense into meaning, inviting you to feel playful, irreverent, and deeply connected to the honest core of who you are and who we are.
“How do you clowns come up with this ‘nonsense’!?”
I perform in Denver, Colorado and if you’re lucky enough to catch a clown show here, you'll observe that many clowns use a “clowned up” version of the classic devised theater method to explore and build their clown's perspective on the world. Rather than collaborating with fellow actors in a rehearsal space to craft scenes, clowns create their own "devised theater" by engaging directly with the live audience, using them as a creative partner and relying on minimal rehearsal. This technique allows clowns to live in that emotionally-charged (bitter)sweet space that’s spontaneous, unpredictable, honest and kind of scary.
Clowns draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including current events, circus heritage, Saturday morning cartoons, wet farts, live comedy and more. At the heart of every reference and every bit of source material is a commitment to authenticity. Clowns have the superpower to address any subject matter in any way they see fit —be it serious issues, wet farts, or societal expectations — as long as they genuinely believe in what they’re portraying, and the audience can sense that conviction.
While clowns may often seem outrageous (or full of nonsense), they must embrace their quirks in order for their work to truly resonate as clowning. The essence of clowning lies in maintaining a sense of hope, a touch of resilience, and an unwavering foundation of honesty. The audience can always tell when a clown isn’t being truthful. To be a clown, everything has to matter 💦💩💨*
[*I’m adding a symbolic wet fart here instead of a period to end this sentence]TL;DR:
What I love about being a clown is that I know nothing, and I’m free because of it! I recognize that my knowledge has its limits (a true clown is “full of nonsense”, after all). I find joy in sharing the little bits of knowledge I have about my passions with others. I hope you find the resources I’ve provided just as enlightening. And if you have any articles to share or add to my list, I’d be thrilled to check them out!
Thank you for taking the time to delve into these thoughts with me and for joining me on this journey through the ever-changing landscape of clowning. I truly appreciate your interest in an art form that resists simple definitions and revels in creative expression in all its delightful oddities. I’m eager to share more about my work with you, and I’m particularly excited for you to witness Meat Show in Space live in June 2025 at the Denver Fringe Festival. Your support means the world to me, and I can’t wait to see you and Meat Show … in … Space!
