Hey, here via a link on das_dingsi's journal (just so you know I'm not some random weirdo...)

I can't talk about clowns in general, since I find them a tad creepy, but not outright scary (I never saw/read IT, which probably would've cemented it if I had). But this fella in my icon (Kefka from FFVI) gives me the outright creeps.

Sadly he's a clown in makeup only. But he's kind of genocidal and has a maniacal laugh and does stuff not because he has any real reason but because he just...feels like it. Which kind of also makes me think of The Joker, as I find him creepy for exactly the same reasons (although The Joker's not so much with the genocidal, but definitely homicidal). Er. That's all I've got...

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Thanks for the reply and the reference back (though I do wonder how I end up on some of those compilations). When I asked this question it was almost Halloween and it seemed an odd thing to me, since there were things like zombies, vampires, werewolves, and such. Clowns just didn't seem to fit. But I know it's not unusual for clowns to be perceived as scary. I have a relative who works as professional clown and we've talked a bit about it. Similar things seem to happen to those in mascot costume or similar.

My suspicion is that anytime you cover the face and make it not easily readable people assume something is wrong. Sort "only the evil need to wear masks" if on a subconscious level. There are exceptions, of course, for well-known characters. For instance, the Lone Ranger is known good and his face isn't completely covered. Or known characters at a theme park might get a pass, at least from most. But that is just a guess.

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You're welcome (I try to remember to do it out of courtesy and just because I occasionally wonder how the hell people ended up on my journal, heh).

I wonder if it's the Uncanny Valley thing at work with the mascots - that is, something that looks pretty darn close to human, but doesn't act in the right way. For some reason, it gives the creeps to most people (and it's a proven thing, which is why we find some types of AI more frightening than others). But I see where you're coming from with the evil thing, too - that kind of thing is seen from being little, I would think - that the bad guys disguise themselves.

Hrm. I may have to think about this some. My brain is doing thinky things now (not entirely a bad thing).

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Uncanny Valley might be a better explanation than evil as such, actually. I have at times wondered if it's also that people are suddenly working without a communications channel (facial expression, skin surface reactions) that makes them uneasy as they don't have that "I know what you're really thinking" bit any more. This brings up the possibility that folks who depend to a great extent on that channel might be more apt than most to being taken in by a pathological liar who can use that channel for his own purposes.

As for me, wearing something that covers my face is an advantage as I don't send unwanted or erroneous messages over that channel. "He's embarrassed." or "You're overexerting." are two wrong signals that get suppressed. Yes, that's me next to the Tron Guy in that icon.

One bit of advice given to folks who would wear such costumes is to overact. Make it cartoony and silly partly to be fun (non-threatening) but perhaps more to send a BIG body language message since facial expression is fixed in place.

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Oh, that's a good point! I hadn't thought of that (which is me being totally dumb) when I mentioned Uncanny Valley. It makes a lot of sense. As does pathological liars using similar techniques to their advantage.

*nod nod* I can see why it'd be an advantage. I mean, there's times when everyone wishes their face didn't give their emotions away as easily, right?

I imagine the exaggeration thing works? And because no-one can see your face, maybe it doesn't show if you're a bit embarrassed about it (although I imagine like anything else, once you've got used to it and the hang of it, then it's not so bad? (Hope you don't mind my n00bish questions...))

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Not dumb. You likely never had reason to think of it before is all.

There might well be some of that, but it's more to not send a signal that is misinterpreted as an emotion. It does work a bit in reverse in a method acting sort of manner. That is, under the mask/head I tend to make the face appropriate for the emotion or attitude I want Orvan to convey - even though nobody will see my face, it seems to help me set things up. Orvan might be stuck in a slightly silly happy smile, but he can indicate displeasure, shock, confusion, and such with gestures and general body language.

Yes, the exaggeration works. I've seen it from outside, too. Another character that was fixed in a permanent smile managed to indicate disgust and anger very well indeed (wretch/gag motions, "put up your dukes" stance -- generally avoided for obvious reason). I've been told I manage to convey things wordlessly quite well, despite no formal education in it at all. Maybe those watching Harold Lloyd silent pictures and Harpo Marx helped? I don't know for sure. You are right, of course, nothing helps as much as the practice of actually doing it. I'd love to do more than I do, as I only really put on the suit and perform (I doubt it'd be right to call it acting - it's ACME Delivery shtick, something that I sort of blundered into and only later realized how utterly lucky I was to do that.) a few times a year at conventions.

And hey, I don't mind at all. I wouldn't say the questions are noobish at all. I think you're approaching this from a higher level than a good many.

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Ah, OK. I see what you mean. A bit like over-acting with sign language, maybe? But obviously without the facial expression being seen.

I bet having watched the silent films did help. I'm always amazed by how much stuff we take in subconsciously.

Well, I never know. But my mum brought me up to be broad-minded, and it's worked really well. I don't care what people do (or don't do) as long as they're happy (aside from obvious exceptions like, oh say, serial killers and whatnot).

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Of course. Sort of like the old "...as long as they don't scare the horses" line I suppose.

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