Various Kinds of Clowns: Whiteface, Auguste, and Others Abound
In the world of entertainment, few figures are as iconic and versatile as the clown. This article delves into the four main types of clowns: whiteface, Auguste, character, and hobo/tramp, tracing their origins back to medieval jesters and theatrical traditions.
The whiteface clown, with its white painted face, is a sophisticated character often playing the role of the straight man or leader in clown acts. Contrasting the whiteface, the Auguste clown dons a base makeup of pink, red, or tan and serves as the comic foil, known for exaggerated facial features and an often ill-fitting, brightly colored costume. Character clowns, on the other hand, represent fixed personas or stereotypes, such as police officers or bakers, embodying recognizable societal roles. The hobo/tramp clown, a specific character clown variant, depicts a downtrodden or vagrant figure, popularized in the early 20th century, reflecting social themes of hardship with a humorous twist.
The roots of clowning can be traced to medieval jesters, comic actors from the commedia dell’arte tradition of 16th-century Europe, and the famous Harlequin being a precursor to modern clown archetypes. English clowns descended from the Vice figure in medieval mystery plays, evolving into theatrical clowns like Joseph Grimaldi in early 19th-century England, who shaped modern clowning with character and makeup types.
Mime clowns, relying on exaggerated gestures, body language, and silence, tell stories in a unique way. Caring clowns, part of a modern movement called therapeutic clowning, visit children's hospitals, medical facilities, and hospices to bring joy to those who are ill. They are known for their compassionate ability to comfort the sick and offer healing and comfort to those they entertain.
Bouffon clowns, with their grotesque or exaggerated makeup and costumes, closely mirror the role of a jester in that they use social critique and dark satire to talk about societal issues. They are considered outsiders who use expressive physical language and mimicry to get their point across.
In summary, modern clown types are rooted in a mix of European medieval and Renaissance theatrical traditions, 19th-century theatrical development, and the establishment of makeup and costume conventions in the 19th and early 20th centuries that formalized the whiteface, Auguste, and character clown distinctions. Each type serves a unique comic function, with the whiteface as the authority or leader, Auguste as the clownish fool, character clowns embodying recognizable societal roles, and hobo clowns reflecting hardship through humor.
This article was co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil., a staff writer at the website. Famous examples of clowns throughout history include Will Sommers (served Henry VIII), Mathurine de Vallois (served Louis XIII), and Patch Adams, a real-life physician who embodies the compassionate nature of caring clowns.
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