The Humorist Void: The Clown’s Balancing Act throughout History

Authors

Stephanie Loera, CSUSB

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The image of the clown has held a myriad of aesthetic positions throughout Western history. Traces of this figure are reflected in the current image of the modern and more contemporary version of the popular clown. From the American hobo and ragged carpet clowns, to Bozo the Children’s clown and The Simpson’s Krusty the clown, the modern western clown that we see today has adopted theatrical and material components of historical figures and has been used as guides for their characters. Pantomime, La Commedia dell’ Arte, and the court jester have played the most influential role in the formation of the Western clown. Had this sequence of personas not taken place, the western world would not have what it sees today as clown.

Recommended Citation

Loera, Stephanie (2008) "The Humorist Void: The Clown’s Balancing Act throughout History," History in the Making: Vol. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/history-in-the-making/vol1/iss1/8