Evil clown

The image of the evil clown is a recent development in American popular culture, in which the playful trope of the clown is rendered as disturbing through the use of dark humor and horror elements.

Many people find clowns disturbing rather than amusing. Clown costumes tend to exaggerate the facial features and some body parts, such as hands and feet. This can be read as monstrous or deformed as easily as it can be read as comical. At the same time, the clown act is often represented as drunken, reckless, or simply insane -- that of the giggling maniac.

Major examples of "Evil clown" imagery are:

• Stephen King's novel It (novel)
• Musical groups such as the Insane Clown Posse and Slipknot
• Science fiction films such as Killer Klowns From Outer Space
• The Joker, the greatest enemy of Batman is a murderously insane supervillain with a disturbing clown-like appearance.
• Serial killer John Wayne Gacy also dressed as a clown at parties and painted clowns while in jail.