Clowning as Critical Practice: Performance Humor in the South Pacific (Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania Monograph Series)

The work of the clown is avowedly political - passionately opinionated about the human condition and, via parody and burlesque, breaks the frames of proper behaviour to instruct, criticise and transform. Whether the clowning performance is a critique of others' actions, appearances and beliefs, or initiated to effect a cultural transformation, the clown is a political force that commands recognition. By focusing on the practice of clowning in the South Pacific, this volume aims to reveal new dimensions of clowning and offer fresh cultural perspectives on the region.