The Clown Transformation Timeline

1950's Pickle Clown Ad

1960's Cereal Commercial 

1990's IT- Pennywise

 

2004 Fear of Clowns 

2009 Zombieland-Zombie Clown

2014 American Horror Story-Twisty The Clown

2015 Banned Clown Halloween Ad

I created the above timeline to show the transformations in clowns from the past till today. Looking at this timeline it shows how drastically the look of clowns has changes in the years from the 1950's stepping into the 21st century. Looking at the image of the pickle advertisement in the 1950's the clowns had very simple yet very clown like makeup. I guess this would be definitely known as the traditional clown makeup. Looking at the clown it doesn't look scary at all. I think this is because of the use of light colours instead of bold strong colours. I also think a clowns smile makes it look scary or not at all. This specific clown has a rounded smile mouth. I think as the edges are not pointy at all this makes it less terrifying.

Next I found this clip on YouTube that is a cereal commercial from the 1960's. Looking at the clowns make up everything has started becoming pointy at the edges specially the smile and there is less colour used or maybe this is because the commercial is black and white. The dimensions of the details draw on the clowns face have started becoming thinner and looking a little more creepy. I also think that why would you have a clown doing a commercial ad for cereal. The next clown in the time line is Penny wise created by the legend Stephen King in 1990.

This was the first dramatic and terrifying change in the history of clowns. Looking at Pennywise his mouth is the most scariest part of him. I also think that the high hair line and the red hair as well as the big red nose make the clown look scary. From this point forward clowns began to appear in horror films rather than circuses where they were originally born and were ever so friendly. This is th reason that people have developed Coulrophobia today.

Coulrophobia is the excessive fear of clowns. Some people are extremely terrified of clowns. Carrying on with my research I came across the clown Halloween advertisement that is at the bottom of the timeline. This as was published in 2015 and was banned as several people complained of how terrifying it was for them and their children. Their is one question to think about that no one has ever answered till today and that is, "why have clowns become an excessively terrifying figure?" I guess this will continue as the years go by and more terrifying clowns will be created by the horror industry.

I looked at how the appearance of clowns has changed along the years as I wanted to see how I could design the clown make up for Mrs Laderman. As I will be crating her as a third eyed freak I wanted to have a look at the difference and have a look to see how scary I can actually make her look as we are talking about having her as a clown figure in American Horror Story and looking at twisty the clown he is really frightening.


Ref:
Omar Oakes, 2015. Scary Clown Halloween Ad Banned for Being Irresponsible & Causing Offence [viewed 23rd March 2016] Available from: http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/scary-clown-halloween-ad-banned-irresponsible-causing-offence/1374263
The 10 Weirdest TvAdverts [digital video] [viewed 23rd March 2016] Available From: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/5005220/10-weirdest-TV-adverts-ever.html
Marie D Jones, 2016. Coulrophobia, or is that a Creepy Clown in Your Closet [viewed 23rd March 2016] Available From: http://jimharold.com/tag/clowns/