Insane (Killer) Clown Posse

With all the issues facing the world today-the looming Presidential Election, ethnic tensions, and the rise of militant terrorist groups like ISIS, who would have thought that people as innocent and wholesome as clowns would become a cause for concern as well? With reports ranging from public harassment to attempted child kidnapping pouring in from across the country, people are beginning to ask whether this phenomenon is just a mean-spirited prank, or a potential public menace.

One of the most commonly asked questions has been what the meaning behind this strange event could be. One hypothesis held by folklorist Benjamin Radford, is that the sightings are similar to “phantom clown” reports of the 1980s. According to Radford, “Many of those reports were hoaxes, some were pranks, and some were schoolyard rumors, but the stories continued, in Chicago, Baltimore, and even in the UK.” His point seems to be that strange and unexplained events may simply be an indication of general discontent and a nervous populous. It should come as no surprise, however, with the multitude of aforementioned problems the world seems to be facing in 2016. If anything, these sightings-many of which remain unconfirmed-may be society’s own special way of escaping its real problems, by creating a “boogeyman” as a clear antagonist. Whatever the case may be, it seems that clowns will continue to hold a special place in the public consciousness, one between absurdity and terror.