
‘Lucky’ Clowns Are Here to Stay
When the “lucky” clowns of the world were still alive, they used to perform their routines in a clown costume, but they were also known as the “real” clown.
Now, a new study reveals that these clowns have become quite the “gift” to us.
“They’re really really useful in certain ways,” says Dr. David McAfee, the lead author of the study.
He explains that a clown mask is a very specific kind of disguise that allows a person to blend in in an otherwise very public space, like a subway or a shopping mall.
“It gives them a sort of invisibility.”
So why do clowns do their best work in clown masks?
It could be that the mask provides a barrier against being spotted by the other clowns.
“The mask is actually quite useful for some people, because they can hide,” McAfee says.
“When people wear masks, they’re not looking at you, and you’re not thinking, ‘Oh, they know who I am.’
They’re thinking, Oh, I’m going to get on the train and I’m not going to be recognized.”
The mask also helps conceal the wearer’s identity, McAfee explains.
“So a lot of people may not recognize you in a mask, so they’re going to do their own mask to cover up that,” he says.
Researchers say the mask is useful because it allows people to be themselves in public spaces, but it also helps hide their identities, making them seem like more normal people.
The mask is also used by clowns for mask-wearing, which can create an illusion of being a clown.
“There are certain aspects of it that may be offensive to some people,” McBride says.
But when you think about it, this is a gift to us, he says, because it creates an opportunity for people to show they’re normal.
When you wear the mask, you’re actually wearing a mask.
“We’re really grateful that these masks are a way for us to communicate with our audience,” McBeans says.
And the clowns aren’t just using the masks to conceal their identities.
“These masks have been around for many years, and they’re very popular among people who want to be in a group, because, well, that’s who they are,” Mcbeans says, adding that the masks also can make it easier for people with special needs to perform.
The masks can be made of different materials, including plastic, rubber, fabric, and even glass.
Some people say the masks make the wearer look more like a clown, while others argue that it’s a mask for the common person.
“I think there’s a whole range of people that might want to have a clown on their face,” McBeeans says of the mask.
If you have special needs, “we want to make sure that you can go to the grocery store and pick up some food for your special needs,” he adds.
“That’s one of the great things about being a normal person.”
Researchers say that the researchers didn’t make any money off of this study.
However, they did get to talk with people who have special challenges.
“For example, when I was younger, I had a very difficult time learning how to speak to a nurse because I couldn’t even pronounce the letters of the alphabet,” McGlennon says.
Now that he’s older, he’s learned how to talk to a social worker and can even make phone calls.
“In a lot for me, this study has been really great,” McGovern says.
For other people, however, the mask might be a gift.
“My daughter had this amazing mask for Christmas,” McBegum says.
He said that he wears it when he goes out for a walk and wants to blend into the crowd, so he can look inconspicuous.
“You know, I wear it to hide the fact that I’m a clown.”