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Monster Clown (view source)

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Clowns are ''supposed'' to be funny. They're supposed to make everyone laugh, especially children. This is the entire point of their existence. Sometimes they succeed. But for some people, clowns awaken [[wikipedia:Coulrophobia|some primal fear]]. There are children who won't go near a clown without screaming.
 
Their face is... [[Uncanny Valley|fake, corpse-like,]], and most often the makeup they use [[Uncanny Valley Makeup|does NOT''not'' help]],; the emotions aren't real, the smile is just painted on. The outfit and big shoes are downright grotesque. There's something seriously wrong with a clown to some people, and this resonates deep within the part of us that still believes that there is a [[Things That Go Bump in the Night|monster in the closet]], that will get out if you don't keep the door closed. You don't want ''your'' kids around the Monster Clown, but the character's parents seem oblivious to their kid's fears.
 
It's somewhat uncommon to find clown characters who are genuinely ''good'' - sympathetic clowns are generally a little more muted, whether or not this is faithful to the job. MoreSurly commonlyclowns who tiredly work with ungrateful children are more common, probably because they speak to the average overworked audience; they may be an example of [[Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight]]. But writers are just as likely to tap into the fear: the '''Monster Clown''' is a classic villain. Expectwho the Monster Clown to parodyparodies humor, with classic jokes becoming deadly; - acid in the plastic flowers pinned to their lapels and joy buzzers with fatal amounts of voltage, among other things. If they work in a circus, it'll be a [[Circus of Fear]]. Likewise, also expect them to crack dark jokes while killing them and laugh maniacally.
 
Monster Clowns are often [[Affably Evil]] or [[Faux Affably Evil]] - if they work in a circus, it'll be a [[Circus of Fear]]. Likewise, many of these clowns may or may not be [[Ax Crazy|completely insane]] and act [[Psychopathic Manchild|in a very similar manner to an overgrown child]]; they tend to commit their crimes while [[Laughing Mad|laughing crazily]] [[The Hyena|and frequently]], cracking fittingly dark jokes ([[Evil Has a Bad Sense of Humor|if you can ''call'' them that]]).
Sometimes, a Monster Clown just ''looks'' like a clown, and doesn't do what clowns normally do, like tell jokes or work in a circus or go to kids' parties. If there is a clown in a work that just looks like one, it's almost guaranteed that it is a Monster Clown. Because, you know, you just don't go about dressing like a clown without doing anything clowny.
 
Note that there are specific kinds of clowns in the real world. People may fear the ''auguste'', the stereotypical clown who acts and dress the most wildly. ''Whiteface'' clowns are unsettling because they are unexpectedly intelligent, even scheming. ''Character clowns'' - like {{w|Emmett Kelly|"Weary Willie"}} - by contrast have very muted designs, and can be difficult to identify by the TV audience.; Youas rarelysuch, seethat are rarely themseen anymore.▼
Sooner or later, our heroes will have to put these clowns to the sword. And sometimes [[Joker Immunity|not even that stops them]]. Also take note that many of these clowns may or may not be [[Ax Crazy|completely insane]] and also commit their crimes [[Laughing Mad|laughing crazily]] [[The Hyena|and frequently]]. Also, sometimes you can also expect them to, while committing various horrific crimes, also act [[Psychopathic Manchild|in a very similar manner to an overgrown child]].
 
The point is that real-world clowns ''clown'': while clowning is intended to be funny, it can be received as ritualised (self-)humiliation, and may make modern audiences quite sick to the stomach - now imagine what the Monster Clown's [[Nightmare Fuel|sick twists on their gags will do to 'em]]. Somtimes, a Monster Clown won't even do ''that'' much... they just ''look'' like a clown, without any of the jokes or working in a circus or going to kids' parties. On the flipside of it, [[wikipedia:John Wayne Gacy|John Wayne Gacy]], one of the most famous serial killers in the United States, worked part-time as a clown - the AP [[Critical Research Failure|once used a stock photo of Gacy for National Clown day]].
▲Note there are specific kinds of clowns in the real world. People may fear the ''auguste'', the stereotypical clown who acts and dress the most wildly. ''Whiteface'' clowns are unsettling because they are unexpectedly intelligent, even scheming. ''Character clowns'' - like {{w|Emmett Kelly|"Weary Willie"}} - by contrast have very muted designs, and can be difficult to identify by the TV audience. You rarely see them anymore.
 
A subtrope of this is [[Enemy Mime]], iswhile a sub-trope of Monster Clown. A villainous clown that is [[Played for Laughs]] instead of fear is a [[Villainous Harlequin]]. TheA related and overlapping trope is the [[Depraved Kids' Show Host]] seems to be related. Clowns' ghastly white makeup putsmay put them into [[White Mask of Doom]] territory. The Monster Clown is often [[Affably Evil]] or [[Faux Affably Evil]]. You can find them atContrast the [[CircusNon-Ironic of FearClown]], although that isn't the only place you'll find them.▼
Real world clowns ''clown'': while clowning is intended to be funny, it can be received as ritualised (self) humiliation, and make modern audiences quite sick to the stomach.
 
That [[wikipedia:John Wayne Gacy|John Wayne Gacy]], one of the most famous serial killers in the United States, worked part-time as a clown doesn't really help their case. You don't want ''your'' kids around the Monster Clown, but the character's parents seem oblivious to their kid's fears. The AP [[Critical Research Failure|once used a stock photo of Gacy for National Clown day]].
 
A 2007 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7189401.stm University of Sheffield study] found that both young and older children universally fear or dislike clown images. Now a lot of hospital wings for child patients will have to be repainted.▼
(Quote from the BBC article: Researcher Dr Penny Curtis said: "As adults we make assumptions about what works for children. We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable.")▼
 
Sympathetic clowns are generally a little more muted, whether or not this is faithful to the job. Surly clowns who tiredly work with ungrateful children are more common, probably because they speak to the average overworked audience; they may be an example of [[Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight]].
 
▲[[Enemy Mime]] is a sub-trope of Monster Clown. A villainous clown that is [[Played for Laughs]] instead of fear is a [[Villainous Harlequin]]. The [[Depraved Kids' Show Host]] seems to be related. Clowns' ghastly white makeup puts them into [[White Mask of Doom]] territory. The Monster Clown is often [[Affably Evil]] or [[Faux Affably Evil]]. You can find them at the [[Circus of Fear]], although that isn't the only place you'll find them.
 
The opposite of this trope is the (perhaps sadly) rarely seen any more [[Non-Ironic Clown]].
 
{{examples}}
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120512084943/http://citynoise.org/upload/32898.jpg Abandoned clown train remembers you!]
 
== [[Real Life]] ==▼
 
▲* A 2007 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7189401.stm University of Sheffield study] found that both young and older children universally fear or dislike clown images. Now a lot of hospital wings for child patients will have to be repainted.
▲== [[Real Life]] ==
▲(Quote** A quote from the BBC article: Researcher Dr Penny Curtis said: "As adults we make assumptions about what works for children. We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable.")
* A charity in the Netherlands is the CliniClowns, people who dress up like clowns and visit children's hospitals in order to make them feel better. After doing this for years, psychological research shows that this backfires because too many children are ''afraid'' of clowns. Oops...
** A [http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1582409620080116?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews Reuters article] elaborates: "The study, reported in the Nursing Standard magazine, found ''all the 250 patients'' aged between four and 16 they quizzed disliked the use of clowns, with even the older ones finding them scary."
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