Coulrophobia

[strange_complex]

It means 'fear of clowns', and my attention was drawn to it by Wednesday night's episode of Frasier: a particular corker of an episode, which had me hooting out loud with laughter.

The etymologically inclined may learn the word's derivation here, while those afflicted (and those merely after a giggle) may have recourse to this site, devoted to the curing of said phobia (for a fee, of course)[1].

Now I don't, if I'm honest, have an actual phobia of clowns (much as I'd like to!). I don't experience tremors or palpitations when I see one, and could perfectly easily walk up and shake one by the hand if I had to. But I do find them pretty grim and creepy, and prefer not to look at them if I don't have to. And my impression is that I am far from alone in this.

Face it, they are deliberately designed to look grotesque, with their over-sized feet, huge trousers and freaky make-up (especially the gigantic fixed grins). Also, they are constantly engaging in violent or aggressive acts, involving e.g. custard pies, squirting water or stage guns. Their supposed associations with 'fun' smack of trying way too hard. And of course there are also the depressingly desperate associations of Ronald McDonald in particular (Yes kids! Instead of doing anything to stimulate you mentally or help you grow into rounded people, we are going to stick you in front of a tepid burger and pallid chips, and tell you it's the most fun a body can have!).

So, given that clowns are supposedly meant to be enjoyable entertainment for kids, what I want to know is: is there anyone out there who actually likes them? I mean, does anyone experience a warm thrill of pleasure when they see a clown? Did anyone yell and scream with excitement as a child at the thought of getting to see one? Anybody?
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[1] Basically, this page is nothing more than the organisation's standard spiel for any phobia, with the word 'clowns' copied and pasted in at every point the specific fear is mentioned. Hence the appearance of phrases like: 'For anyone earning a living or at school, the financial toll of this phobia is incalculable'. Er, sure.... assuming you work or go to school in a circus...

Comments

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

I don't get excited by the prospect of clowns, but they've never bothered me. As a kid I was enthralled by the balloon animals, and as I got older and more into gymnastics, I was interested by their tumbling and acrobatics. Now? I can take them or leave them; I'm equally capable of hugging one and of ignoring one.

Have you ever been to Cirque du Soleil? I wonder if the clowns there would/do provoke the same reaction, as they're more about the acrobatics, mime, and physical abilities than they are about big shoes and squirty flowers. Hmmm . . .

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Acrobats are good. I think another thing that's freaky about 'typical' clowns is that they move about in an ungainly fashion, waddling from side to side in their enormous shoes. It's another thing that makes the look somehow not quite human...