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...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage Publ.
1967
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| In: |
Theology today
Year: 1967, Volume: 24, Issue: 3, Pages: 306-317 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| 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!” |
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| ISSN: | 2044-2556 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Theology today
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/004057366702400306 |