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I want to edit things about clowns because I love clowns soooo much. However I see some grammar problems which makes me really angry! So please let me edit this page and pay homage to these godly creatures. Rocky Xu1 (talk) 16:02, 27 October 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Opening sentence currently reads that a clown performs comedy and performing arts "in a state of open-mindedness" ('state' is a wikilink to 'mime') using physical comedy. Apparently this was a recent improvement from an even more obtuse version, but to me this phrase still doesn't make any sense. Is there some inside jargon being used here? Why does 'state' link to mime? What is meant by a clown having an open-mind, and as opposed to what? Surely someone with a closed mind is capable of throwing a pie in a face. Unless I'm missing something, I think the whole phrase can be dropped, as it's unnecessary to the definition and most likely covered by saying they reverse folkway-norms (another strange choice of words - why not just say societal norms? But that's another storyy) 2600:8800:239F:A900:F0D6:73E1:825:E100 (talk) 16:36, 22 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
IMHO the lead is crap, doesn't follow WP:LEAD and I think that it should be re-written particularly as the phrase you have highlighted is nonsensical. Feel free, as my writing talent is poorer that whoever wrote that!! -Roxy thedog16:44, 22 November 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Many statements in this article are not properly sourced. An example is the section on origins. No source is given for the following statement: “The clown … developed out of the zanni, the rustic fool … of the early modern Commedia dell'Arte, … directly based on the rustic fool … of ancient Greek and Roman theatre.” There may be some truth in this, but obviously the origins of the clown are not so simple. The Wikipedia article titled “the Shakespearean fool” describes one line of derivation from the court jesters in aristocratic households, which is obvious enough if we think of the fool in King Lear. The Encyclopaedia Britannica adds the medieval Vice in mystery plays “The English clown was descended from the Vice character of the medieval mystery plays, a buffoon and prankster who could sometimes deceive even the Devil. Among the first professional stage clowns were the famous William Kempe and Robert Armin, both of whom were connected with Shakespeare’s company." Perhaps some more knowledgeable person could help expand this section? METRANGOLO1 (talk) 15:34, 26 April 2023 (UTC)[reply]