Is The Fear Of Clowns Really Human Nature?

Clowns were supposed to entertain us.  So why do so many people fear them or freak out at the very mention of them?  In honor of the coming National Clown Week (August 1^st-7^th), I will attempt to explain this.

As a child, I remember watching Bozo the Clown on television.  I was never scared of his grease painted face but I was not very interested, either.  I prefer the clown doll in Poltergeist or Tim Curry’s role as Pennywise in Stephen King’s IT.  Even those clowns never scared me, though the one in Poltergeist did creep me out a bit.  Then there were the hobo clowns that just made me sad with their checkered cloth bag on a stick and defeated eyes.  Of course, we don’t see them around anymore, do we?

As so many friends and people I have met have told me they are just terrified of them, to the point of shivers and shakes, I wondered why.  I may have an answer.

When it comes down to it, I think everyone knows how fake the illusion of happiness is on that painted smile.  Even if the clown is playing happy, I think our internal sensors tell us if that person is truly happy or just acting.  I believe we can see past the grease paint and get more of a sense of the real person.  Isn't the smile usually painted over straight lips?

Our natural defense mechanisms go into alert when we are shown one thing and feel another about a person.  It is what protects us against predators, especially skilled ones.  The real trick is to listen to our intuition and not give in to shiny objects and promises we don’t feel are real.

By the title, you didn’t think this would be so deep, did you?

Still, there are plenty of people who match the smile they smear on themselves when they entertain.  People who are truly passionate about bringing joy to others.  I say we embrace these people and enjoy their work.  Of course, when that little bell rings in your head… listen.  That goes not just for clowns, but for all life.

Thanks for reading.