Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

probably of Low German [[origin]]; akin to Frisian klönne clumsy fellow, [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] clyne lump of metal

probably of Low German [[origin]]; akin to Frisian klönne clumsy fellow, [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] clyne lump of metal

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1563]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1563]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: [[farmer]], countryman

*1: [[farmer]], countryman

*2: a rude ill-bred [[person]] : [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boor boor]

*2: a rude ill-bred [[person]] : [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boor boor]

*3:a : a [[fool]], jester, or comedian in an [[entertainment]] (as a [[play]]); specifically : a [[grotesque]]ly dressed [[comedy]] performer in a circus  

*3:a : a [[fool]], jester, or comedian in an [[entertainment]] (as a [[play]]); specifically : a [[grotesque]]ly dressed [[comedy]] performer in a circus  

:b : a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon  

:b : a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Clowns''' are [[comic]] performers stereotypically characterized by the [[grotesque]] image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish [[costumes]], unusually large footwear, and red nose, which [[evolved]] to project their [[actions]] to large [[audiences]]. Other less [[grotesque]] styles have also [[developed]], including theatre, television, and film clowns. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Berger Peter Berger] writes that "It seems [[plausible]] that [[folly]] and fools, like [[religion]] and [[magic]], meet some deeply rooted needs in [[human]] [[society]]".  For this reason, clowning is often considered an important part of [[training]] as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_theatre physical performance] [[discipline]], partly because tricky subject matter can be dealt with, but also because it requires a high level of [[risk]] and [[play]] in the performer.

'''Clowns''' are [[comic]] performers stereotypically characterized by the [[grotesque]] image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish [[costumes]], unusually large footwear, and red nose, which [[evolved]] to project their [[actions]] to large [[audiences]]. Other less [[grotesque]] styles have also [[developed]], including theatre, television, and film clowns. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Berger Peter Berger] writes that "It seems [[plausible]] that [[folly]] and fools, like [[religion]] and [[magic]], meet some deeply rooted needs in [[human]] [[society]]".  For this reason, clowning is often considered an important part of [[training]] as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_theatre physical performance] [[discipline]], partly because tricky subject matter can be dealt with, but also because it requires a high level of [[risk]] and [[play]] in the performer.

The term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulrophobia coulrophobia] has been coined to describe those [[individuals]] who report a [[fear]] of clowns.

The term [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulrophobia coulrophobia] has been coined to describe those [[individuals]] who report a [[fear]] of clowns.

==History of Clowns==

==History of Clowns==

The most ancient clowns have been found in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_dynasty_of_Egypt Fifth dynasty of Egypt], around 2400 BCE. Contrary to [[court]] jests, clowns have [[traditional]]ly served a socio-[[religious]] and [[psychological]] role, and traditionally the role of [[priest]] and clown have been held by the same [[persons]].

The most ancient clowns have been found in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_dynasty_of_Egypt Fifth dynasty of Egypt], around 2400 BCE. Contrary to [[court]] jests, clowns have [[traditional]]ly served a socio-[[religious]] and [[psychological]] role, and traditionally the role of [[priest]] and clown have been held by the same [[persons]].

Clowning was [[developed]] from a broad [[tradition]] of historical performances, and it is [[difficult]] to point out a singular tradition or even a few different ones as being the primary precursors to clowns. However there are a few past prominent forms of [[entertainment]] contemporarily linked to clowning as its possible antecedents.

Clowning was [[developed]] from a broad [[tradition]] of historical performances, and it is [[difficult]] to point out a singular tradition or even a few different ones as being the primary precursors to clowns. However there are a few past prominent forms of [[entertainment]] contemporarily linked to clowning as its possible antecedents.

Examples of historical, clown-like comedic performers have been the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime pantomimus] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greece], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazzi Lazzi] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell%27Arte Commedia dell'Arte], bouffons, court [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester jesters], as well as the French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mime mime] tradition. On top of this there are many non-European clowning traditions (including clown-like figures in Japanese [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki Kabuki] theatre), North American native [[shaman]] traditions to consider which may or may not have [[influenced]] what we now think of as a clown in the Western world.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown]

Examples of historical, clown-like comedic performers have been the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime pantomimus] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greece], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazzi Lazzi] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell%27Arte Commedia dell'Arte], bouffons, court [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jester jesters], as well as the French [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mime mime] tradition. On top of this there are many non-European clowning traditions (including clown-like figures in Japanese [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki Kabuki] theatre), North American native [[shaman]] traditions to consider which may or may not have [[influenced]] what we now think of as a clown in the Western world.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown]

[[Category: Theatre]]

[[Category: Theatre]]