When we think of clowns we might picture the circus, a bright red nose, big feet, juggling, mismatched clothing, a large smile painted in vibrant colors and silly tricks. Clowns are generally meant to entertain the public, to make people laugh and stare in awe. They often do tricks or act like fools to catch your attention. What good is a clown if he blends in to the crowd, wears boring clothing, or isn't well equipped with red balls, tricks and jokes? Why is the clown expected to humiliate himself in attempt to keep us laughing? Who is this guy anyway? Does anyone recognize him under all that face paint and the goofy wig? I wonder what he really thinks and feels. I can't tell if he is truly smiling under the large, fake, paint-cracked grin. Surely he is only doing his job. Do you think he even enjoys it? Do you think he is laughing or is he sick of all his old tricks?
We may not see clowns on an everyday basis, but I see people everywhere who have adopted many similar traits and abilities. We may not be expected to act like fools or ju
ggle in parks, but we succumb to many social and cultural expectations despite what we may truly desire to do or be. Perhaps our face paint isn't white and red, but instead we cover our flaws and paste on a smile when really we aren't happy. We may not wear a wig, but we can paint our hair any color we wish and cut it to any form the most modern magazines suggest. We don't generally dress in oversized overalls or plaid shirts with mismatched buttons and frilly collars, but we keep up with all the movie stars and famous singers and will happily put on whatever hideous apparel they say is "in". We form ourselves to the demands of society, acting like everyone wants us to, and putting our own hopes and dreams on the backburner to first fulfill the popular demands that encumber us.
ggle in parks, but we succumb to many social and cultural expectations despite what we may truly desire to do or be. Perhaps our face paint isn't white and red, but instead we cover our flaws and paste on a smile when really we aren't happy. We may not wear a wig, but we can paint our hair any color we wish and cut it to any form the most modern magazines suggest. We don't generally dress in oversized overalls or plaid shirts with mismatched buttons and frilly collars, but we keep up with all the movie stars and famous singers and will happily put on whatever hideous apparel they say is "in". We form ourselves to the demands of society, acting like everyone wants us to, and putting our own hopes and dreams on the backburner to first fulfill the popular demands that encumber us. What would the world be like if we weren't afraid of not "fitting in"? What if it were ok to dress as we like without adjusting our fashions to those of others? Should we all wear the same hairstyles and use the same customs? To what degree can we practice individuality without suffering the scorn of modern fashion? Why be something you don't necessarily want to be, or why act a certain way only to fit in? Can we still befriend those of differing customs and get along just fine? Where do we draw the line?
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