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| "The ballons creep me out!" |
CLOWNS
Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns. You are not alone if you find clowns creepy and scary. People have been frightened of clowns for centuries, although not a lot of people actually suffer from extreme clownphobia, most people just don't like them. There are even websites dedicated to clown hating such as ihateclowns.com . I do not hate clowns but Stephen King's book IT definitely made clowns forever creepy in my eyes.
Clowns are supposed to be entertainers for children but a survey of 250 children between the ages of 4-16 showed that most children dislike clowns and even feared them. Have clowns always been so scary or did something happen at sometime to make them this creepy? What do you think?
19 comments:
Great post. Followed you.
I've always thought clowns were creepy. The clown in Poltergeist was really evil and creepy.
I don't think clowns have always been creepy. I think that movies featuring creepy clowns have perpetuated this notion (and too many parents allow their kids to watch this sort of fare). The more creepy clowns that are featured in books, movies, TV shows... will make their Creep Factor rise.... I think.
I think scary movies do portray clowns as creepy. Little kids are afraid of the make-up. They're also afraid of the mall Santas that they're supposed sit on his lap and take a picture. Rodeo clowns help lure the bulls away from the riders, which seems like a terrifying job.
Glad to read your A to Z posts, Siv!
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I've never liked clowns much (although some are fun to watch, like rodeo clowns), but then, I don't like any performer who gets in my personal space and tries to engage me in their act. Scary clown movies haven't helped.
Love that you posted a picture of Pennywise from IT! LOL Clowns are definitely creepy in my book. :)
Count me as one who finds clowns creepy, even before I saw a few movies about the ones that come alive. . .
In a preschool group I co-managed one summer, I found out about kids not appreciating clowns as they sense an adult behind that mask of the makeup, and aren't sure if they're trustworthy if they don't know the person. (I had dressed as a clown for a party for the kids and I had borrowed the costume.)
Clowns are like monkeys - I don't like either of them. . .
As a kid. I was horrified of my room. My sister collected clowns. They were the creepiest things at night.
Hugs and chocolate!
Brrrr. Anyone who paints on a face and is manically happy sure creeps me out all right!
This post connects well with your first post, the uncanny valley. We fear those things that resemble humans, but aren't. In this case, clowns are humans, but because they were the costume and makeup, we aren't sure who they really are. It makes sense--the clown could be an honest nice guy trying to make a living, or a serial killer. Take your pick.
From cute to creepy, Clowns have made a long journey in popular imagination.
Damyanti Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2014, Latest Post
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I Love clowns :) the nice cute ones :)
but yes creepy one's do freak me out !
Hell yeah! When I look at the picture / video that you have put up, it freaks me out. I agree with comments above that say this notion is a result of negative associations, perpetrated by movies. Good luck with the rest of the challenge!
We had lots of parades in town when I was a kid, loved the floats, hated the clowns - scary! Don't know how they became entertainment for children, use of candy and everything! A tragedy in the making!
But that's me!
I always thought clowns were creepy, though I have a friend who is so freaked out by clowns that she can't stand to look at them at all. I threatened to buy her a clown magnet for her fridge. I was joking, of course, but she really didn't think it was funny.
Clowns are meant to be funny but are clearly the 'freaks' of the entertainment industry. Think about it. Pale faces, big feet, honky nose. What is attractive and mainstream about that?
Ya know what I find creepy, dolls... those weird ones that close their eyes when you lay them back and open them when upright... those eyes! Horror I tell ya! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I've never liked clowns. I do think they're creepy.
Clowns - oh my, I really dislike clowns and you chose IT to illustrate your topic. I love that mini-series, although I have to admit that I found the book hard going. Some friends and I once won a costume competition and for some unknown reason the prize was a clown doll. We fought over who had to take it home :).
Tasha
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