I was super bummed that I couldn't actually go to the show but I was pleased to see that it
exists. or...existed.
Clown Axioms at La Mama (NY)
Clown Axioms is a show of 12 women clowns that "create a poetic yet preposterous world" Expect some interesting takes on female stereotypes, and by extension female clown stereotypes. Last July they did a workshop showing, and now they are doing an expanded show. the show features a number of clowns, including: Amanda Barron, Christine Bodwitch, Kendall Cornell, Melinda Ferraraccio, Kathie Horejsi, Emily James, Ishah Janssen-Faith, Mona Le Roy, Judi Lewis Ockler, Julie Pulmettaz, Maria Smushkovich, and Virginia Venk.where: The CLUB at La MaMa ETC 74 A east 4th St. (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue) cost: Tickets $15 $10 student tickets with valid I.D. call: Box office: 212-475-7710 when: Friday, October 9th at 10pm Saturday, October 10th at 10pm Sunday, October 11th at 5.30pmFriday, October 16th at 10 pm Saturday, October 17th at 10pm Sunday, October 18th at 5.30pm Find out more: clownsexmachina.com, www.lamama.org Especially the "interesting takes on female stereotypes and by extension female clown stereotypes" part. I have long been frustrated by the supposed position of women in comedy and of course women in clowning. There's the whole "women aren't funny" thing that we all need to get over, but it's a stigma that seeps into our personas and routines and as a result we get clowns and comic personalities that are just exaggerated stereotypes of the ones we face in everyday life. I'm speaking largely of the clowning world, but I think it applies to stand-up and other areas too. Way too often you have the wide-eyed innocent infantile woman channeling a little girl mentality to appear cute and confused. Or the overly maternal grandma. Or the sassy hooker clown that's a twisted extension of the innocent little girl clown. God help us. ![]() Without getting too heavily into identity politics, it seems to me that just because one is female and a clown doesn't mean one is a "female clown" whose act centers around the fact that she's a she. Often it's explained that a clown is an extension of our personalities, so sure if you're female that could obviously enter into your clown personality. But everyone's got more going on in their personalities than their gender, so a clown should too. |

No comments:
Post a Comment