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| ==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 |
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| ==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. |
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− | 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. |
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| ==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]]. |
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| 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. |
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− | 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] |
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| [[Category: Theatre]] | | [[Category: Theatre]] |