{"product_id":"the-semiotics-of-clowns-and-paul-bouissac-9781472532787","title":"The Semiotics of Clowns and Clowning: Rituals of Transgression and the Theory of Laughter","description":"During the last 300 years circus clowns have emerged as powerful cultural icons. This is the first semiotic analysis of the range of make-up and costumes through which the clowns' performing identities have been established and go on developing. It also examines what Bouissac terms 'micronarratives' - narrative meanings that clowns generate through their acts, dialogues and gestures. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePutting a repertory of clown performances under the semiotic microscope leads to the conclusion that the performances are all interconnected and come from what might be termed a 'mythical matrix'. These micronarratives replicate in context-sensitive forms a master narrative whose general theme refers to the emergence of cultures and constraints that they place upon instinctual behaviour. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom this vantage point, each performance can be considered as a ritual which re-enacts the primitive violence inherent in all cultures and the temporary resolutions which must be negotiated as the outcome. Why do these acts of transgression and re-integration then trigger laughter and wonder? What kind of mirror does this put up to society? In a masterful semiotic analysis, Bouissac delves into decades of research to answer these questions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Paul Bouissac\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1472532783\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781472532787\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bloomsbury Publishing PLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/16\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 232\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.50d","brand":"Paul Bouissac","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43989870575871,"sku":"9781472532787","price":51.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_a6e45ab6-22c7-4fa0-ba66-b9c271b41af1.jpg?v=1683301815","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-semiotics-of-clowns-and-paul-bouissac-9781472532787","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}