In defense of clowns | Leslie Patient | TEDxAsbury Park Salon

Key Concepts

• Inner Child/Outer Clown: The psychological process of accessing one’s authentic, playful self (inner child) and expressing it outwardly (outer clown).
• Clown College: An elite, intensive training program (founded by Irving Feld in 1968) focused on the professional craft of clowning.
• Uncanny Valley: A psychological phenomenon where human-like objects (like clowns) cause feelings of unease or revulsion because they are "almost" human but not quite.
• Gags: Technical term for the skits or physical comedy routines performed by clowns.
• Human Condition: The central focus of clowning, which explores the flaws, foibles, and paradoxes of human existence.

1. The Evolution of Clowning: History and Profession

Clowning is an ancient tradition spanning over 4,000 years. Its origins are traced back to ancient Egypt, where Nubian pygmies performed ceremonial dances for the Pharaoh, who described the act as a "divine spirit to rejoice and delight the heart."

• Professionalization: In 1968, Irving Feld established "Clown College" to address a shortage of professional clowns. The program was highly selective; for the class of 1990, only 39 students were chosen from thousands of applicants.
• Training Methodology: The 10-week, six-day-a-week curriculum included juggling, stilt-walking, costume design, makeup application, and physical performance. A core tenet of the training was the requirement to "dig down deep" to find one's inner child to manifest an authentic outer clown.

2. The "Evil Clown" Trope vs. Reality

The speaker addresses the modern cultural fear of clowns, noting that 53.5% of people report being afraid of them.

• Cultural Origins: While the "evil clown" is a prevalent trope, the speaker argues it is a one-dimensional portrayal. Key contributors to this negative perception include the opera Pagliacci (1892) and the influence of Stephen King’s works.
• The Professional Perspective: The speaker distinguishes between the "evil clown" trope and the reality of the profession, noting that like any other field (e.g., dentistry), clowns are unfairly judged by one-dimensional media portrayals.

3. Clowning as a Tool for Self-Discovery

The speaker shares a personal case study from her 15 years as a teacher at an all-girls boarding school.

• Transformation: Students who began as shy or belligerent were required to engage in clowning. Over 12 weeks, these students developed significant confidence, creativity, and collaborative skills.
• The Mask vs. The Self: A critical distinction is made: clown makeup is not a mask to hide behind, but a tool to accentuate one's own facial muscles and express one's "truest self."
• Physicality: Clowning requires the use of the entire body to communicate emotion, ensuring that even an audience member in the "rafters" of a large arena can understand the performance.

4. The Philosophy of the Clown

Clowns serve as a "magnifier" of the human condition. When a clown falls, the audience laughs not at the clown, but because they recognize their own clumsiness and human flaws.

• Wholeness of Humanity: The speaker highlights performers like Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, and Robin Williams, who successfully balanced comedic roles with poignant, serious, or tragic performances. This demonstrates that the "clown" is not just a happy caricature, but a vessel for the full spectrum of human emotion.
• Political Misconception: The speaker rejects the common usage of "clown" as a derogatory term for politicians. She argues that politicians are the antithesis of clowns because they use masks to deceive, whereas clowns use their performance to reveal inner truths.

5. Actionable Insights: Finding Your "Outer Clown"

The speaker encourages the audience to embrace their "outer clown" in daily life to achieve a more authentic existence:

• Embrace Playfulness: Wear the "funny shirt" or the "silly hat" that you usually avoid due to social judgment.
• Seize Joy: Engage in spontaneous play, such as using a playground slide or dancing in a grocery store aisle when a favorite song plays.
• Self-Reflection: Use the "selfie mode" on a smartphone to study one's own facial expressions and muscle movements to better understand how one communicates emotion.

Conclusion

The main takeaway is that clowning is a profound, professional, and ancient art form dedicated to the celebration of the whole human being. By embracing one's inner child and allowing it to manifest outwardly, individuals can overcome the fear of judgment and live more authentically. The speaker concludes with a quote from William Shakespeare’s As You Like It (Touchstone): "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." This serves as a reminder that acknowledging one's own "foolishness" is a sign of true wisdom and self-awareness.