ArticlesI am scared of people who wear clown noses.
No, I am not scared of clowns. I like clowns! Clowns are fun.
I am scared of people who are merely wearing clown noses. It’s a subtle distinction, but I was trained to see it as an important one.
A few years ago, I took a couple of clown courses. I didn’t go to a full-time circus school or anything (and yes, they do exist), but I did a couple of one-day-per-weekend-for-six-weeks courses.
About the only skill I notice myself still using from the course is that I can better accept applause.
Our teacher spent some time explaining the nature of clown. He emphasized the difference between a real person and a clown character. He was dismissive of people who can’t make a sharp distinction between a character and their own personalities.
He explained that the red nose represented a vestigial mask. He used it as a prop to clearly separate these two worlds. When we were doing an exercise it was “noses on”; we must remain in character. When he was explaining an exercise, it was “noses off” so that we would listen as people; as clowns we would have hardly deigned to sit still and listen to an authority figure.
You must realise that a clown character isn’t someone who wears a silly red (prosthetic) nose. The clown character is someone who has a silly red nose.
This means that no matter how much discomfort is being caused by the hard, rough and sharp plastic edges being pushed tight against the sensitive skin on your face, you must not be seen to adjust your nose. That would be dropping out of character – a sin to do in front of the audience.
The teacher was constantly barking at students to “STOP TOUCHING YOUR NOSE!” as they performed their exercises.
Overall, the courses were quite fun; I looked forward to them each week. However, I think I was slightly traumatised by this treatment. I continue to revere the red nose as a magic mask that transforms personalities. Wearing the nose is a serious commitment to staying in clown character. It is, ever-so-slightly, holy.
When I see non-clowns wearing the nose and not following the rules of clown, I feel the nose is cheapened.
Hey, look, I’ll get over it. Don’t worry too much about me. Just understand why I would rather just give a donation than buy a nose on Red Nose Day. It is in support of a worthy charity, but leaves me shuddering slightly all day.
Comment by Cassie on May 13, 2006
I can understand where you’re coming from, Julian. But what is worse than what you have described is to don the nose, or the whole “clown suit”, and call yourself a clown.
While I appreciate how you revere the clown nose, it is important to note that the nose doesn’t make the clown. And neither does the clown suit. Certainly, the nose or the clown suit can be an integral part of a clown character, but there is more to it than that.
A lot of people do not understand this, and that is where my concern lies. I get frustrated when I see people who perpetuate the misbelief that all there is to being a clown is to put on a “clown suit†and face, think of a name and maybe do something a bit silly. They do this by “performing†as a “clown†themselves, or worse, teach clowning in this way. It is these clown impersonators that do the real injustice to clowns and clowning.
BTW, you can get merchandise other than red noses to support Red Nose Day. I assume that their mission is to raise awareness of SIDS, as well as money, and covering the country with merchandise is a form of SIDS evangelism. Plus, we live in a mercenary, consumerist society, so asking for donations isn’t going to be effective for them – they have to ensure that the individual gets immediate material gain from their investment. Hence, I applaud you for pledging a donation.
Comment by Julian on May 13, 2006
Cassie,
Yes, I think we are in vehement agreement here. Clothes don’t maketh a clown. A nose doesn’t maketh a clown. I think you would have approved of the clown school that I attended (which is now, sadly, defunct.)
As for the other Red Nose merchandise, yes, I have an uncomfortable Red Nose Day pen or two around here somewhere, but I think I threw away my badge.
Generally, however, I prefer to donate without receiving some junk in return, for a very mercenary reason: I can double my donation knowing that the nice Mr Costello will chip in almost half at tax time if it is classed as a charitable donation as opposed to a purchase.