Why Are Some People Coulrophobic?

DISCLAIMER: Today's blog contains clowns.

 

Poltergeist: Clown Scene (1982)

How's it going lurkers? If you have been watching or listening to the latest in the news, some people have been playing killer clown pranks on others. As the days go by, I keep reading and hearing about coulrophobic people.

Coulrophobia is having a fear of clowns.

Surprisingly, coulrophobia has existed for decades. As long as I can remember, my youngest aunt (she's 7 years older than me) has been scared of clowns, since the movie, Poltergeist. Poltergeist released in theaters June 4, 1982.

That was literally 10 days before I was born.

Like I already said, the clown in Poltergeist somewhat caused my aunt to become coulrophobic. However, I don't believe her coulrophobia is as debilitating as others.

Some people seriously have a debilitating fear of clowns. Most coulrophobics are scared of the Auguste Clowns.

Auguste Clowns are the clowns with red noses and crazy-looking hair.

I mainly discussed this issue on Adult Swim. A poster mentioned, that John Wayne Gacy contributed to coulrophobia.

Gacy was a serial killer/rapist dressed as a clown, during the 1970's in Chicago, IL.

The Adult Swim poster, who I talked to made a valid point, that highly supports coulrophobia.

I feel that Horror Movies, Horrorcore rappers, and Shock Metal bands such as Insane Clown Posse and Slipknot, for example contributed to their fair share of coulrophobia within the last 2-3 decades.

I'm not demonizing them. I'm only stating my observations.

Horror Movie Auguste Clowns

Pennywise The Clown from Stephen King's It most definitely made his contribution to coulrophobia. 

Almost everyone I've talked to about their fear of clowns is quick to name drop Pennywise. The latest addition to coulrophobia happens to be Twisty The Clown from American Horror Story: Freak Show.

Professional Scary Clowns Upset With American Horror Story’s Scary Clown

After reading the preceding article regarding Glenn Kohlberger's anger towards the demonization of clowns, I couldn't help laughing. Clowns of America's president is upset about clowns being portrayed as serial killers.

So far, there appears to be an increasing number of adults and children, who dislike clowns. Supposedly, movies about killer clowns have traumatized the most recent generations. Some coulrophobics claim they fear what is HIDDEN under the masks.

My youngest aunt especially claims, that a clown's physical appearance looks suspicious and abnormal.

Translation: They are social deviants; Clowns look like complete freaks and she doesn't trust them.

I was never coulrophobic growing up. Then again, I have been a Horror fan, since my childhood. In order to understand how horrific coulrophobia can be for some, here's an old clip from a documentary about a coulrophobic woman.

A Severely Coulrophobic Woman

This phobia seems hilarious, if not ridiculous to the rest of us. Although, this can't be said to those struggling with coulrophobia.

Coulrophobia can be as debilitating as being arachnophobic (being scared of spiders). I was really surprised to learn, that Johnny Depp and Sean "Puff Daddy/P. Diddy" Combs are coulrophobics.

I was more surprised about Johnny Depp than P. Diddy, considering all the creepy and social deviant roles that Johnny has played within the last 1-3 decades. Well, you learn something new everyday.

Last week, I Googled coulrophobia and stumbled upon websites regarding people's fear of clowns. In fact, there is a website specifically called, Coulrophobia Facts. 

The website gives readers a better understanding about having a fear of clowns in detail.

Coulrophobia Facts lists the different types of clowns, the history of coulrophobia, and gives suggestions about how to overcome the fear.

If you want to learn more about coulrophobia, the link is above.

Anyway, since today's blog is about CLOWNS and Halloween is creeping around the corner, I have a music video for you called "Proud As Punch" by Fear Incorporated. I'm so sadistic.

Fear Incorporated "Proud As Punch" Dark Carnival (2014)

Song Saturday: 3 Growling Metal Frontwomen Block

How's it going lurkers? That picture in the left hand corner is a picture of Alissa White-Gluz. 

Sometimes I forget that Arch Enemy was originally fronted by a male vocalist (Johan Liiva).  

Angela Gossow was the band's first replacement vocalist for almost 14 years. 

Recently, Angela "handed the torch" to Alissa White-Gluz from The Agonist. Scott (my friend and subscriber from Blogster) recently informed me about this surprising news. 

I probably would've known much sooner, but I've been living under a rock for quite some years regarding most of today's music. 

So, Angela Gossow no longer fronts Arch Enemy. Alissa White-Gluz from the Canadian Death Metal band, The Agonist, is her replacement.

Angela purposely chose Alissa because Alissa is a longtime friend and Angela felt she deserved a chance to join Arch Enemy.

Gossow retired from the band on March 17th and is now their business manager.

After watching some of Arch Enemy's latest music videos featuring Alissa, I feel Angela picked the perfect vocalist as her replacement. Meanwhile...

I have been trying to save some of the heavier music for later this year, but I think I will squeeze in some today. On YouTube 2 years ago, I watched this performance by Rachel Aspe and found it to be hilarious.

Rachel Aspe Covers Sybreed's "Emma-0" (2012)

She deceived everyone with her physical appearance and courteous demeanor. They assumed Rachel was going to chirp like a bird rather than growl like a lioness. Gotta love it!

Over the last decade or so, there has been an increase in female vocalist fronting Metal bands. Some of them sing, some of them growl, and some do BOTH. 

Surely, these female vocalists endured their fair share of discrimination. The music industry has always been male-dominated, especially the Metal industry.

It can usually be very challenging for females to love Metal bands, if not belong to them. Women must work MUCH harder to prove we are Metal fans, in order to gain men's respect.

Even though I was never in a Metal band, I battled a lot of discrimination. This was especially since I listened to and aired mostly Metal on my radio show, All Things Frightening.

Over 12 years ago, I was the only so-called "ethnically ambiguous" Radio DJ/Hostess at UW-Parkside's 101.7 WIPZ to air mostly Metal.

Considering that I'm open-minded to most music genres and sub-genres, I bonded with a few male and female co-workers. At WIPZ, I played both mainstream and undiscovered music. This cannot be said for everybody.

Some male co-workers at WIPZ asked each other, "What's the difference between your show and hers?" 

A female co-worker replied, "Anna plays more Death Metal on her show."

When hosting All Things Frightening, I always said my radio show consisted of mostly Metal, including Industrial Metal, and Electronica.  

Sometimes, I exposed my other co-workers to bands they never knew existed. They either loved those bands, or hated them.

Some of my female co-workers didn't air as much Metal. Whenever I co-hosted some female co-workers' shows as a guest, they expected to hear certain bands.  

Otep was 1 of the Metal "artists" I FREQUENTLY played.

In 2002, Otep Shamaya debuted. She was highly influenced by KoRn (circa 1994-'96) and Slipknot (circa 1999-2001), along with strong Death Metal elements for her debut album, Sevas Tra.

Male co-workers mocked me for playing Otep's "Battle Ready" on my show because her growling vocals sounded furious and "masculine."

Otep "Battle Ready" Sevas Tra (2002)

"Battle Ready" was the main song I played by Otep. Sometimes I played "Blood Pigs," "My Confession," and "Possession." I really enjoyed her Jihad EP and Sevas Tra. By '04, I lost interest in Otep's albums.

Otep Shamaya became too politically divisive and hateful. Like almost every other musician by 2004, she jumped on the bandwagon of demonizing President George W. Bush. It was already bad enough that Otep ruined Nirvana's song, "Breed," a few years ago.

Last year, I listened to "Apex Predator" from her Hydra album and hated it. I still like Otep Shamaya's work from 2002 and was quick to embrace and expose her work locally in Kenosha, WI and air online for my listeners.

Much like Otep has a tolerance level, everyone including her fans have tolerance levels and already lost interest in her because her extreme bitterness is overkill. Personally, I prefer Arch Enemy over Otep.

Don't be fooled by their beauty. These women are the embodiment of "I am woman, hear me ROARRRR!!!"

After listening to Otep's, Angela's, and Alissa's growling vocals, I triple dog dare some ignorami (both men and women) to ask these Metal frontwomen if they're on their rags. 

As those ignorami get brutally knocked out, rip to shreds, and devoured, I'll be cheering from the sidelines.

Anyway, here's some Otep circa 2002, Arch Enemy featuring Angela Gossow, and Alissa White-Gluz from both The Agonist and currently Arch Enemy. Get ready to shit bricks! \,,/ \,,/

1) Otep "Blood Pigs" Sevas Tra (2002)

2) Arch Enemy [With Angela Gossow] "My Apocalypse" Doomsday Machine (2005)

3) The Agonist [With Alissa White-Gluz] "Panophobia" Prisoners (2012)

4) Arch Enemy [With Alissa White-Gluz] "You Will Know My Name" War Eternal (2014)

Big shout out to Scott from Blogster! I hope you're enjoying the Wacken Festival!