This week I’m trying to understand how and why clowns became scary and I’ll be looking at one clown in particular to help me find the answers: Jean-Gaspard Deburau, who in 1836 was tried for the murder of a young boy. What does this little-known incident from the 19th century have to tell us about our relationship to clowns today?

Special thanks to Dan from TYTD Reviews for providing additional voices!

Show Notes:

• Creepy clown sightings prompt La Jolla school advisory (YouTube)
• Disturbing clown account threatens New Haven schools on Instagram (YouTube)
• Jean-Gaspard Deburau (Wikipedia)
• Clown (Wikipedia)

• Nye, E. (2022). Deburau: Pierrot, Mime, and culture. Routledge, Taylor et Francis Group.

• Ambs-Dalès, J.B. (1836). Histoire de Debureau.

This episode of Mount Molehill was written, produced, and edited by Chris, with music by Chris and Alex Bainter / CC BY. Special thanks to Dan from TYTD Reviews for providing the voice of Jean-Gaspard Deburau. All other voices featured in this episode apart from my own are computer generated.

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