Clowning (An Introduction?)

I am in fact about that tomfoolery life. That lolligagging. The hijinks and slapstick, if you may. I've always adored vaudeville aesthetics and the attraction of the circus. Respectfully, I'm also well aware of the history of the Circus and Sideshows. To use disabilities as a commodity is abhorrent. To promote child labor is repugnant. To abuse animals is inhumane. To do all three for entertainment based monetary profit is subhuman. Although modern circuses have lost their sense in mystique, I'm overjoyed the field seems more ethical than it used to be.

What I have in my thoughts and prayers are the idealistic appeal of the circus aesthetic that upholds the basic rights of people and animals while engaging in its artistic history. What I truly mean is that I day dream of circuses that engage with more artistic whimsy in set, costume and acts. I yearn for a modern revival of vaudeville aesthetics. And I want to believe I am on that sort of path. These are pictures of a look I did my freshman year of college.

I've had an obsession with clowns since I was little. I remember having a Jojo the Clown puppet, but it was one of those marionettes on a string. I guess this memory also intersects with my puppetry obsession. Marionettes are so much fun when you learn how to control them. I miss that puppet, it was my favorite toy. I forgot why I brought this up. I guess this obsession with clowns and the circus was rooted in my childhood, that's all. Funny enough, that's probably one reason why Harley Quinn is my favorite DC character, especially the newest version.

With the rise and fall of Reptilian Spy (iykyk) and ICP trending once again, I decided to create a clownsona leaving high school and entering college. Cherries Jubilee. They are a silent clown varying in whiteface types from primarily a Harlequin to a Pierrot or Mime. Regardless, they are elegant, but very prone to pies as props of humor. Cherry pies with vanilla cream topping. It's where the gag of the name "Cherries Jubilee" has its roots.

I'm finally taking a circus skills class that I've had my eye on for the longest and right now I'm working on juggling as a skill to display for my final performance in May. I'm practicing extra hard because I want this performance to go really well. I feel like it'll help restore who I am as a performer. I've lost a lot of who I was these past three years. I used to have ambition, I used to be able to perform in front of crowds with my whole body. And now I'm too scared to even sing in front of my friends. I have not sung in ages. I've had no reason to, and lost a lot of my performance skills. I want my life back.

Anyway, I just wanted to show off my collection of Cherries Jubilee make-up looks. I'm working on a patch sewn jester hat with brighter colors that remind me of the Pretty.Odd. album. Gotta put that chromesthesia (or chromesthesia delusion) to work somehow. When it's done, I'll post a blog launching the whole look!

xoxo