The Clown as the Lord of Disorder

“The clown, a human-like being, may dare to challenge the nomos of the gods as did the hero in Greek tragedy; by this he demonstrates that a release from the restrictions of order is, at least, within the possible scope of human existence. Aristotle's remarks on catharsis, the purging of the so...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Zucker, Wolfgang M. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage Publ. 1967
In: Theology today
Year: 1967, Volume: 24, Issue: 3, Pages: 306-317
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:“The clown, a human-like being, may dare to challenge the nomos of the gods as did the hero in Greek tragedy; by this he demonstrates that a release from the restrictions of order is, at least, within the possible scope of human existence. Aristotle's remarks on catharsis, the purging of the soul from its antinomial tendencies, apply also to the clown. But, like the hero of tragedy, he must not eventually get away with such freedom. While the hero suffers his catastrophe in grand style, the clown… is chased around the ring before an applauding audience. … What a spectacle, what a two-fold pleasure, to experience vicariously the assault on order and to witness simultaneously the reduction to nothingness of the transgressor!”
ISSN:2044-2556
Contains:Enthalten in: Theology today
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/004057366702400306