The Weird, Uncomfortable, Creepy History of Clowns

Midnight Facts for Insomniacs · Nov 17, 2022 · 54m

Few characters from pop culture are as divisive as clowns. Simultaneously endearing and terrifying, the archetype of the clown has persevered throughout the ages despite being reviled by a significant portion of the world’s population. There’s even a word for the fear of clowns: coulrophobia.

So how did ancient jesters and tricksters evolve into the unsettling, white-faced, crazy-haired clowns of today? And what makes the figure of the clown so durable? Find out in this week’s buffoonish, pratfalling, skin-crawling episode of MFFI.

~

Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting…