Why are clowns considered evil?

Question

Were they thought of as being evil before Stephen King wrote "IT"? Or is it just me that thinks this???

Answer 1

There have been a lot of movies and books that describe some very evil things about clowns.

You never know what's behind the mask and the greasepaint.

Answer 2

Im a professional clown and I was taught that it is basically the same thing as a person wearing a rubber mask. You know they are not real and some of them do look freaky and creepy like "IT". And it is all based on bad experiences. Alot of parents push their kids toward a clown and think it is funny. I have learned to stay away from kids who don't like clowns and eventually they warm up to me. I don't look freaky or anything like that. I am actually a very cute and nice clown. I don't do exaggerated gestures and I have had many compliments from parents stating that their kids didn't like clowns until they met me. Plus there are alot of movies portraying clowns as evil. (polgergist when the clown dragged the kid under the bed, a movie with 2 evil clowns riding in a herbie)

Answer 3

I think it depends on the culture. But, usually an unfamiliar face can frighten young children anyway.Some children might even be afraid of their own reflections in the beginning. These might just be an instinctive reaction regardless who is wearing any type of mask. Clowns like anyone who hides their true identity aren't normally trusted especially when it's this obvious. This is just an example of instinctive fear of the unknown by most children and that some parents exploit these fears to give their children a false sense of security that their parents will protect them. This question would have been better or equally suited in the psychology section. Parents who play these mind games with their children might just be creating future schizophrenics.

Answer 4

I think even before Stephen King's IT, that some people did not like clowns. I know I never have. However, that story/movie and a few others have made them seem even more sinister. After all, it's usually a man wearing heavy makeup, hiding his true identity, and smiling freakishly all the time. What's creepier than that? lol

Answer 5

I grew up thinking clowns were funny. I went to the circus once a year, and they had me in fits of laughter.

I think now-a-days there is a culture of fear, and people are afraid of the unknown and what they can't see. And they cannot see behind a mask, so a clown becomes frightening.

But that's not the case. How many victims were beaten, mugged or killed by someone in a clowns makeup?? None??

Answer 6

Clowns in the circus are no more evil than anyone else. The real evil clowns are our political leaders, like George Bush and Tony Blair.

Answer 7

clowns were fun till stephen king got to them hes the evil one

Answer 8

Ive always been frightened of clowns, even before I saw IT. I think my brother is largely to blame for that! He knew I wasnt particularly fussed on clowns and he hid under my bed once wearing a halloween clown mask and grabbed my legs when I sat on the bed. I was about five or six when he did this

Answer 9

Anything that happy can't be good! Just kidding. Yes, I think it's because of how they ahve been fictionalized. And some people have a genuine phobia. There's no telling when or how the phobia developed but it's not different than people being afraid of the dark, water, heights, spiders, etc. I know it doesn't seem to equate, but for those people who are afraid of clowns, it's very real.

Answer 10

Check out Shakes the Clown with Bobcat Goldweight. It is a dark comedy that depicts clowns as blue color workers just trying to get by: drinking in bars (in make-up), commuting to work (in tiny cars), etc.

And of course there is Killer Clowns from Outer Space. Even thought it is really silly, it scared the heck out of several of my friends.