CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Clown’s origin are vague. Coming from a direct source, Old Icelandic, ‘clown’ comes from the word klunni which indicates as a clumsy person. However, as mentioned in the Encyclopedia Britannica, a clown is a well-known funnyman performer of pantomime and circus, recognize by his characteristic makeup and costume, whose will is to influence people to laugh. The clown normally carry out a set of performance depicting a wide significant sense of humor, foolish cases and lively physical action.
Aside from that, clown also serves as an entertaining social critic. In anthropology, it is considered as the most complicit character. The incompetent nobleman who dances like a fool despite of the happenings around him. The clown is the persona who carry on our compassion and understanding, who represents our voice, does the unspeakable and unachievable which enables him to be the shin guard for our emotions. (http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/drama/features/archive/themeclowning.aspx)
The act of being a clown, clowning, existed over centuries which can be done in a variety of locations before various audiences. How a clown performs depends mostly on the number of audience and the location as well as engaging by a circus, theater troupe or other organizations. Independent clowns normally function on a freelance basis for special events such as school assemblies and birthday parties, as well as performing on a recurring basis at seniors’ homes and hospitals.
Often during children birthday parties, parents never neglect to invite clowns. They are the special guests of the celebration who make the ambiance happier and more exciting. They make people laugh through their accidents, failures and faults. Whenever they performed in an audience, they show intellect and humor. They uses timing, surprise, anticipation and slapstick as elements of their humor.
Looking on all the things that clowns do in order to make people laugh - do slapstick, use of exaggerated pants and fanciful make up, make of foolish acts, juggling, miming and even magic trick- clowning is indeed an Art. So the researcher suppose that they must considered as an Artists/Art form just like how dance, painting, music, sculpture and other things are known for. It requires bodily skills, imaginative skills and a rigid knowledge on human nature. Using sort of combination such as drama, music, dance, wit, acrobatics, riding and of course with their big smiles, clowns were able to win the hearts of their audiences.
Everywhere and anywhere one looks, there is Art. Preserving memories through pictures- Photography, an Art. Songs that people hear and sing- Music, an Art. Swaying in a graceful and rhythmical way-Dance, an Art. And even how one dresses-Fashion, is an Art. Truly, Art exists in all places but there’s one thing that people forget to include-clowns. Therefore, having the mentality that clown is an Art form will add to people’s comprehension concerning about them. This study will discuss and clarify things to cut the notions and to widen the knowledge and understanding of the people about clowns. Given all the apparent reasons and descriptions about clowns, this research focuses on the basis and explanation on why clowning should be considered as an Art form.
B. Statement of the Problem
This study aims to answer this question:
1. In what ways is a clown an Artist?
C. Significance of the Study
* Clown. Knowledge on both sides of the differences of their respective fields may widen their comprehension with regard to their careers. In addition, the researcher aspires to give ideas which can make more people look up to them and make developments and improvements for the progression of their current career status.
* Parents. As the main guardian of the children who loves watching clowns, knowing information on the differences between them maybe a considerable help. As parents, this research will make them feel relieved about the safety of their children; parents can easily watch over on their children behavior and reactions.
* Aspiring Clown. Having knowledge about what makes a clown will help the aspirants attain their goal. This study will help them distinguish the do’s and dont’s in the field. The researcher intends to make the aspirants realize the essence and significance of this profession.
* Future Researchers. This study will be great help to future researchers to make similar studies; since having clowns as a topic have still a lot of concerns, considering it as an Art form. There have also been some researches about this matter done outside the country but since our culture is different from them, this study can encourage future researches to further study about this matter locally. This study maybe used as a reference to other studies or research relevant to the study.
D. Scope and Delimitation
This study focuses in the reasons why clown/clowning should be considered as an Art form. Clowning existed for thousands of years performing in different ways such as jesters, fools, mimes, magicians, etc. And as time passed by, new form of clown has made adapting in the life or culture of its generation.
Due to time constraints, this study will no longer discuss the history of clowns and its different types though it may have had glimpse on how clowns started. This study would exhibit more on the things that clowns can do and the qualities the have which includes them to being an Artist. This study will only impart some reasons, factors and differences due to limited time given to conduct research.
E. Materials and Method
This research will use the following methodologies since the researcher intend to identify and classify the elements or characteristics about clowns/clowning which are subject concerns in the field of entertainment. The study aims to clarify misconceptions about clowns. It will give the readers’ consciousnesses that clowns were not just entertainers but also Artists that they may look up to. The study also focuses on the connections that Art and clowning have and the bridges that bind them together. In addition, the researcher intends to engage in the qualities that clowning have which makes it as an Art form. With the aim of this methods, the researcher believes that it is deem to be a relevant approach for the study.
Information relevant to the study was gathered from various reference materials such as books, articles, and blogs from online sources.
F. Definition of Terms
Clown. A person whose words or actions provoke or are intended to provoke amusement or laughter.
Clowning. Acting like a clown or buffoon.
Art. A production and expression of aesthetics, creation and expression of representations of beauty (as in painting, music, theater, drawing, sculpting, etc.)
Performance. The act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment.
Humor. A message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter.
Artist. A person who engages in an activity deemed to be an Art.
Jester. Type of clown who is employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the middle ages.
Slapstick. A stick or combination of sticks used by clowns and other comic entertainers to produce a loud slapping sound.
Circus. A traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts and the word also describes the performance that they give.
Chapter 2
Discussion
In what ways is a clown an artist?
Definition of Art
Art is, first of all, comes from a Latin word, 'ars', which translates as "skill" or "technique". Whatever 'Art' is, it is an object that was at some point technically made or arranged. The term, after all, is difficult to be defined. Yet Art is made everywhere. It is something made or performed by people, it’s a creative process but not in the same way as science. It inspires, entertains, makes people feel happy or sad and sometimes educates them. There may be a message; some are narrow while others are deep. It uses our senses visual, audio, some touch - sound, dance, word, light and color. Art therefore, is also an object but not just any kind of object - an aesthetic object. It is meant to be looked at and appreciated for its intrinsic value. Its special qualities set Art apart, so that it is often placed away from everyday life—in museums, churches, or caves.
Dictionary meaning of Art is, as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary, something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings. In simple words, it is the product of human creativity.
With these definitions and descriptions about Art, the researcher considered Clowning as an Art form. It is said that originally, Art is a skill or technique and clowning is, indeed, a skill. Making a person laugh is a difficult thing to do - not all people knows and has the power to do so. In order to make people laugh, a clown needs to make fool of himself -pie throwing, falling down stumbling, leaping and tumbling in a comical manner- then after all, he laughs his foolishness.
Another is that same as Art, clowning is created with imagination and skill. Clowns makes use of their creativity to make people laugh. Before performing in an audience, clowns think of creative ideas and ways in making people laugh at them they even thought of a creative costume -colorful and fanciful clothes, exaggerated pants, shoes, collars and wigs bigger wider or baggier than usual- that will immediately seen by people. With regard to their acts, they also have creative ideas that add to their performance. Aside form doing foolish acts, they also perform pantomime, juggling, magic tricks, puppetry and silly jokes.
As an art form, clowning intends to entertain people. They make people laugh out loud with their acts and amazed them with magic tricks. Aside from entertainment, clowns also send message to people. Probably, people were not familiar with it, but the truth is clowns are trying to teach them a lesson. It is that one should not be ashamed to be himself and to present himself in the society as a profoundly human and close to his nature. Clowns make people feel better of themselves. Also, clowning shows us how vain, absurd and hopeless are the efforts towards success. It is through failure that clowns show their wisdom. And lastly, they show to people that happiness is possible without necessarily unforming the norms of beauty, self-control and logical intelligence.
Clowns as Artists
As what had said in an article entitled "Who is an Artist?" , in ancient Greece and Rome there was no word for “artist.” The Greek word “techne” is the closest that exists to “art” and means “mastery of any art or craft.” From the Latin “tecnicus” derives the English words technique, technology, and technical. From these words we can denote the ancient standard of equating art with manual labor or craft.Throughout history and the Middle Ages, artists were viewed as craftsmen or artisans and they did not have a high status in society. It was not until the Renaissance that artists began to acquire more prestige in society. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, artists like Raphael and Albrecht Dürer began to act for the increased status of artists within their paintings. Following the Renaissance, artists keep to be highly respected in society.
An artist is many things. An artist is an individual who creates art, certainly. And since there are many genres of art, definitions of artists often result to definitions of art. Then what is art and who should be considered an artist? It seems reasonable to classify painters, sculptors, and photographers as artists. Do house painters, construction workers, or tailors qualify as artists? Truly, artists are not the only ones who create. Construction workers, for example create many structures that are necessary for the continuity of our way of life. Tailors create beautiful clothes; Landscapers create beautiful sceneries. The workers, for instance, are simply acquiring items that already exist in the world and rearranging them. The person who drafts the design of the house is an artist, but the one who builds it is simply taking pre-existing materials and moving them into place according to the artists design. The tailor is following the design patterns that an artist has created.
Artists are those who driven for something new, even if it is only a new view on an old concept. They are those who have the courage to speak in public; those who allow the basis of their being to be exposed to the light of day. Artists find a way to create, though others may be set up to hinder their process. But, there is so much more to the description. The researcher had found an article entitled “What is an artist?” and realized that the true significance of artists. Sarah Thornton,the author, said that an artist is someone who creates art and art is made by an artist. The term artist typically refers to anyone who is engaged in any activity that is deemed to be an art. They have all the energy, intention, discipline and willpower that a canvas does not. Moreover, the artist is the unifying contact—or the combining channel—that pulls together various artworks.
Through this, people can identify clowns as artist. Like what an artist is defined, clowns are persons who are engaged in an activity that is deemed to be an art. And art now is something that is created with and imagination and skill just like how clowning is made.
Clown Qualities that makes it an Art
Artist counts as one of the most talented and creative individuals in the world. Their works have several hidden meanings associated into them and they are also perfectly beautiful. For instance, works of art such as The Mona Lisa has certainly changed the mentality on art as they can be extremely beautiful to the eye of the people and an marvelous experience to look at. They must have certain qualities and attributes that impart to the success of their career. Hence, for aspiring artists there are a number of qualities that one should have in themselves to become successful in terms of their work and also their individuals self belief. An article entitled Top 10 Qualities of a Great Artist is a compilation of some qualities that should be embedded in each and every artist out there. The researcher filtered some qualities that are related to clowning. Each was as follows and was associated with clowns.
1. An Awareness of the Audience: A great artist is well-aware of the audience of the piece they're creating. A clown is also aware of his audience, by ensuring that the audience can see his performance. Just like what Philippa, a clown circus performer said in an article entitled Becoming a Circus Performer,"I get to play and have fun every night. It's great to see the faces of the audience just jump alive when I make eye contact with them during a performance. You can see the audience being transported to another world.”
2. An Eye for Design: A great artist has a keen eye for design and knows what makes for a good work of art. A clown knows what is the difference between a good and bad performance. They know what will make their performance good. They exercise a rigid discipline to continuously learn in order to reach their potential, to apply new artistic methods and have the desire and ability to push creative limits.
3. Creativity: A great artist is very creative and always has new ideas for projects. A clown knows how to play with his ideas which makes something new and valuable. Clowns think of creative ideas and ways in making people laugh at them they even thought of a creative costume -colorful and fanciful clothes, exaggerated pants, shoes, collars and wigs bigger wider or baggier than usual- that will immediately seen by people.
4. Humility: A great artist has a sense of humility and is open to criticism. They understand that not everyone will have the same feelings about their work. A clown does not think that he is better or more important than others. According to an article Humility and Honoring written Randy Christensen, the truly great clowns are those who have humble attitudes.They don’t have to talk about themselves because the quality of their performances and lectures speak for themselves.They are confident in what they do, even if critics have a different viewpoint.
5. Knowledge of Materials: A great artist is familiar with a variety of materials that can go into a project, and knows how to most effectively use them to bolster a piece. A clown knows that there are a lot of materials that he can use effectively and efficiently for his performance like classic clown nose, bright top hats, inflatable clown shoes, clown wig, giant bowtie, etc. as what an article Clown Carnival Theme Party mentioned.
6. Passion: A great artist is passionate about their work and practices their art because they love the work and feel a need to create. Every clown is passionate on his every work;they make their own path and create art that is an true expression of their most unique innate gifts- to make people laugh. Because of their passion, it was said in an article entitled Courage & Creativity: be a clown, not a martyr that clowns are valued for being unafraid to say what needs to be said;they are brave enough to risk looking stupid and saying things people might not want to hear.
Clowns as Performance Artists
Performing Arts are art forms in which artists use their body or voice to convey artistic expression—as opposed to visual arts, in which artists use paint/canvas or various materials to create physical art objects. Historically, performance art has been a medium that challenges and violates borders between disciplines and genders, between private and public, and between everyday life and art. It includes opera, dance, music, acting, puppetry, magic and circus acts(eg., clowns, acrobats, etc.,). It has been clearly stated that clowning is one example of performance art. Clowns use facial expressions, voice, and body language to communicate a creative fabrication. As performance art, clowning is performed in front of a live audience.
According to Shelley Esaak in her article Performance Art - Art History 101 Basics, performance art was originally used to describe any live artistic event that included poets, musicians, film makers, etc. - in addition to visual artists. Through time its definition modifies;it meant to be live and it was Art not theater. Later on, dance and body art also includes the performance art. In other words, there are no foreseeable boundaries for Performance Art. Mentioned, are some characteristics of a performance art and are associated with clowning:
• Performance Art is freely-no rules or guidelines. It is art because the artist says it is art. Artists can make experiments with regards to performances. Clowning, also, has no rules and regulations as long as they make people laugh. After all, it’s all that matters.
• Performance Art is not for sale. It may, however, sell admission tickets and film rights. Clowns can be either performed in a circus or independently. In both aspects, clowns were payed for their performances.
• Performance Art may be comprised of painting or sculpture, dialogue, poetry, music, dance, opera, film footage, turned on television sets, laser lights, live animals and fire or all of the above. Clowning also includes music and dance in their performance such as when juggling, doing magic tricks, puppetry and when falling down stumbling.
• Performance Art is a legitimate artistic movement. It has length and is a degree course of study in many post-secondary institutions. Maybe not everyone is familiar or know that there is a degree course for clowning. In fact there are certain schools for clowning like Indiana University Bloomington.
• Performance Art may be entertaining, amusing, shocking or horrifying. No matter which adjective applies, it is meant to be memorable. Clowns were able to entertain people through their different acts. Definitely, their magic tricks amuse people but sometimes they also terrify them. At the end of the day, the experience with clown one has stays in his mind.
As performing artists, they have traits that greatly contribute to their careers. Musicians, singers, dancers, actors have done their path so do clowns. An article entitled Top 10 Qualities of a Great Performing Artist gathered some traits and characteristics that performing artists posses. The researcher filtered some qualities that are related to clowning. Each was as follows and was associated with clowns.
- Creativity: A great performing artist is very creative and can come up with ideas that help make performances more interesting, engaging, and exciting. A clown also knows how to play with his ideas which makes something new and valuable that help make performances more interesting, engaging, and exciting. Clowns think of creative ideas and ways in making people laugh at them they even thought of a creative costume -colorful and fanciful clothes, exaggerated pants, shoes, collars and wigs bigger wider or baggier than usual- that will immediately seen by people.
- Enthusiasm: A great performing artist has a great sense of enthusiasm for their craft. Clowns have overflowing eagerness and excitement for their craft. According to an article entitled Butoh Clown, clowns have a tendency to be enthusiastically active, animated, and we often find it challenging to keep the connection to your central funny bone especially in the midst of enthusiastic celebration.n Flexibility: A great performing artist must be very flexible, as work in the arts can be intermittent and schedules can vary widely. Clowns have many different skills;he can portray a exaggerated comical character and he can also magician, puppeteer, musician and dancer.
- High Self-Esteem: A great performing artist has excellent self-esteem and does not let rejection and poor reviews affect personal perspective or motivation. Clowns have individual subjective appraisal of himself no letting refusals and denials let him down.
- Perseverance: A great performing artist should be very persevering and seek out job opportunities continually, even in the face of inevitable rejection. A clown is very determined and continually striving hard to learn new technique and ideas which will improve his skills. In fact, clowns are enrolling in a workshop like “Take A Leap” which will strengthen their imagination,confidence and capabilities extending their knowledge of clowning techniques as what stated in an article entitled Advanced Workshop.
- Physical Stamina: A great performing artist has good physical stamina and can endure long periods of standing, dancing, singing, or other physically taxing activities. A clown has good physical stamina and can endure long periods of standing, dancing, singing, or other physically taxing activities. As said in an article, Man/Clown #1 and Man/Clown #2 (Supporting), clowning roles demand physical strength, vocal and physical transformation and delineation, stamina, and tremendous character work.
- Self-Discipline: A great performing artist should have excellent self-discipline and be able to self-direct practice time and other development exercises. A clown knows how to control and improve himself even without the help of others. As mentioned in a clown site, Just Clowning Around, clowns control their impulses, actions and reactions, to give your best effort to achieve a goal.
- Talent: A great performing artist should have natural talent in their chosen craft. They should have genuine interest in the craft that propels them to hone their talent and improve in performance. A clown possesses natural talent in whatever craft within himself showing his greatest interest and passion. Just what an article, Andy the clown's Skills & Talents said that besides from being a comical character, clowns can do magic (Comedy Magic, Stage Magic, Close Up Magic , Gospel Magic), juggling and ballon sculptures.
Chapter 3
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This research paper aimed to identify the reasons why clowning is an art form. The study also aimed to clarify misconceptions about clowns. The researcher gave the readers' awareness that clowns were not just entertainers but also artists that they may look up to. The study, still, focused on the connections that art and clowning have. Furthermore, the researcher engaged in the qualities that clowning possess which makes it an art form. The data collected were used to answer the question mentioned before and aimed by this research paper. The findings of this research are as follows:
1. Art is a product of human creativity. Likewise, clowns are able to make use of their creative skills through their costumes and various acts.
2. Artists are those who are involved in any activity that is meant to be an art. As Sarah Thornton, an author, said that an artist is someone who creates art and so art is made by an artist. Same as in clowning, these clowns use their creativity in making their own art.
3. Clowns have several qualities that considered them as artists. Just like any other artists, clowns have knowledge about their audience, an eye for design, creativity, humility, passion and knowledge of materials.
4. One type of art that is known by many is the Performance Art. It include art forms in which artists use their body or voice to show their artistic expressions such as opera,dance, music, acting, puppetry, magic and circus acts(eg., clowns, acrobats, etc.).
5. Though people are familiar to performance art, some of it's aspects were regretted or unusual for some just like how clowning was treated. Like the characterization of performance art, clowns also possess those things. Clowning is live, freely, comprised of music and dance, has a degree course and is entertaining.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this study,the following conclusions are drawn:
1. Defining what an Art is a difficult thing to do as one part of the research. Its definition changes from generation to generation yet they all hit the same value of art. In order to define art, people must stop to consider it as a means to pleasure, rather see it as one of the conditions of life. Dealing it this way, people will take it as one of the means of communication between each other.
2. Art liberates clowns from their systematic lives into the fullness of being human. Thus, Art is really seen but not lived, yet brought to offer as life.
3. Probably, most people think that Art is only for artistic persons but the truth is, Art can be found anywhere and in anyone just like clowning. It is the clowns’ personal expression of their collective mind. It reflects both the moment in which it is created and the continuity of human consciousness. It is where clowns’ thought form come into reality with the power to communicate with other people.
4. Clowns were born not just an ordinary entertainer-historically to make the King amuse and fascinate- but also artists who made history of their own.
Recommendation
After drawing the conclusion of the study, the researchers hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations:
1. Regarding to clowns’ preference, they should start adding more ideas and concepts in their performance. The purpose, amount and ideal of the performance should indicate and tell the audience that what they are going to see is Art.
2. Clowns’ performances are for general audiences including children. Children especially those whose age are from five to twelve years old should be guided and supervised by their parents or guardian. Whenever they have questions or if they were uncertain with clowns’ performance, their parents are there to simplify the current situations.
3. The aspirants or novice in the field of clowning should internalize and find out the clowns in themselves. Because through finding their own clown and adapting it in their lives will surely help them to become successful in their chosen field.
4. Researchers should give time to watch the performance of clowns as it is a part of their research to know the characteristics and how a clown performs. Although it may take up some time, it gives one the further in depth understanding of clowns such that one may be able to easily analyze and review them.
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