We usually imagine the clown as a circus clown with a red ball nose, the "world's smallest mask." However, the history of the figure of the clown goes back much further than that of the circuses created in the 18th century. It is an expression of a complex interweaving of socio-political, theatrical, historical, body and gender discourses. The contributors to this volume, including internationally renowned clowns (Leo Bassi, Dimitri, Oleg Popow and others), present contemporary artistic positions on the clown as a "form of play" on the one hand, and theoretical perspectives from various scientific disciplines on the other.
Hitherto neglected by research, the clown proves to be a paradigmatic figure in cultural history.
