My current interest/hyperfixation is clowning. This came more or less from nowhere (but not really).

In a few days I will travel to London to do a 3 week course and I figure this is a good time to use this blog to document the experience.

Clowning

Clowning is an incredibly varied art form and means different things to different people in different societies and times. It has a lot of history and innumerable aspects to tackle.

What does it mean to me? I don't have a succint personal definition yet, but I have some ideas with varying levels of clarity that come from what I have learned so far.

• Clowning as a skill that is learned like any other. Anyone can build their own version with their own blocks and other people's blocks.
• Things that make me an outsider can be used (on my own terms) instead of hidden.
• The world is heavy but also ridiculous. Keeping the ridiculous in mind - and display - helps with the heavy.
• Clowning as a straightforward interaction where the main signal to listen for is laughter (more straightforward than regular socialising).
• Carrying mental / emotional / physical energy into a pleasurable activity (other examples for me: dancing, running).
• Accepting the audience's agency and my own.
• New angles to think about things that I already thought about.
• Costumes! Funny objects! Weird things!