Every day when we go out, we know we are going to encounter someone who is afraid of us. Which is a terrible feeling. Coulrophobia comes from all the sensationalized horror clowns - in movies (Stephen King’s “It”), television (“American Horror Story”), and the occasional real life psychopath (John Wayne Gacy) - and we have to deal with the mess. It hurts to be thought of as "scary" and "evil" just because some clowns like to go out and do horrible things. Humans do horrible things too, but all humans don't get lumped into the same category. Yes, Pennywise the clown from "It" was scary, but you know who else was scary? George W. Bush.
We would love to be able to get on a bus without someone changing seats, or apply for a job without being told that we are "insulting them by walking into their store," but we face these challenges with patience and love because we are not evil. We are also not wholeheartedly good and perfect. We are flawed and complex beings just like you. And we have helped countless people overcome their phobias of clowns. And do you know how we've done it? By showing them our humanity (which, by the way, is a very non-inclusive word - but we will let that one slide).
One of those people who changed seats on the bus eventually gave us a hug and asked for a picture with us. All we did to change her mind about the terror of clowns was talk to her. People come to our shows all the time and tell us that we have helped them get over their fear of clowns because “we are different.” Maybe we are, but maybe these people aren’t spending enough time with the many clowns who are just different from the overzealous birthday party clown they encountered as a child who had a painted on smile and not enough sensitivity, which traumatized them for life.
A lady on the street we met said that she didn't like clowns because she thought that we were "unpredictable" and that she didn't know what was behind our noses. Okay, maybe we are unpredictable sometimes. But since when is that a bad thing? Exciting is another way to think of it, and that is part of our positive contribution to society. And what's behind your nose? Your nasal cavity. Ours too. Behind ours is also love.
People should not be ambivalent towards clowns. They should celebrate all the wonderful things that clown have done for centuries (yes, clowns have been around for that long) and continue to do. They should rejoice in the sense of play that we bring out in people when they open their hearts to us - because our hearts are open too.
Sometimes people ask us where our big squeaky shoes are, or if we juggle, or if we can whip up a balloon animal. Some clowns have these qualities and talents but we do not. We are not an old fashioned image of a clown that is represented in the media. We are NOT ALL THE SAME! We adapt and change like the rest of society. We personally see ourselves as trés hip and chic and sometimes hang out on Queen Street West and party with Drake (well not yet but we party at the Drake).
It's time for clowns to speak out. We will speak. We will yell. We won't be silent - that’s for the mimes.
If you haven't yet, you can watch our documentary about clown stereotypes - Morro and Jasp: Behind the Nose.
Your friends always,
Morro and Jasp
xoxo
We would love to be able to get on a bus without someone changing seats, or apply for a job without being told that we are "insulting them by walking into their store," but we face these challenges with patience and love because we are not evil. We are also not wholeheartedly good and perfect. We are flawed and complex beings just like you. And we have helped countless people overcome their phobias of clowns. And do you know how we've done it? By showing them our humanity (which, by the way, is a very non-inclusive word - but we will let that one slide).
One of those people who changed seats on the bus eventually gave us a hug and asked for a picture with us. All we did to change her mind about the terror of clowns was talk to her. People come to our shows all the time and tell us that we have helped them get over their fear of clowns because “we are different.” Maybe we are, but maybe these people aren’t spending enough time with the many clowns who are just different from the overzealous birthday party clown they encountered as a child who had a painted on smile and not enough sensitivity, which traumatized them for life.
A lady on the street we met said that she didn't like clowns because she thought that we were "unpredictable" and that she didn't know what was behind our noses. Okay, maybe we are unpredictable sometimes. But since when is that a bad thing? Exciting is another way to think of it, and that is part of our positive contribution to society. And what's behind your nose? Your nasal cavity. Ours too. Behind ours is also love.
People should not be ambivalent towards clowns. They should celebrate all the wonderful things that clown have done for centuries (yes, clowns have been around for that long) and continue to do. They should rejoice in the sense of play that we bring out in people when they open their hearts to us - because our hearts are open too.
Sometimes people ask us where our big squeaky shoes are, or if we juggle, or if we can whip up a balloon animal. Some clowns have these qualities and talents but we do not. We are not an old fashioned image of a clown that is represented in the media. We are NOT ALL THE SAME! We adapt and change like the rest of society. We personally see ourselves as trés hip and chic and sometimes hang out on Queen Street West and party with Drake (well not yet but we party at the Drake).
It's time for clowns to speak out. We will speak. We will yell. We won't be silent - that’s for the mimes.
If you haven't yet, you can watch our documentary about clown stereotypes - Morro and Jasp: Behind the Nose.
Your friends always,
Morro and Jasp
xoxo
RSS Feed