Fool and the Clown in Western Culture and Literature

Homo Insipiens

Inbunden, Engelska, 2025

Av Svetozar Poštić, Svetozar Postic, Svetozar Potic, Svetozar Po¿ti¿

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The Fool and the Clown in Western Culture and Literature: Homo Insipiens is a fascinating description of these two perennial figures in European and North American history, folklore, theater, literature, arts, and popular culture. The first part of the book separates them into ten different subcategories and recounts the most vivid and influential manifestations of different kinds of fools and clowns in cultural history. The second part singles out three European writers who have made a significant contribution to the elucidation of the concept of folly. William Shakespeare, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Samuel Beckett have painted an entire gallery of fools, clowns, and buffoons, created not only to entertain but also to explore the meaning of human life. The most important concepts in the book are illustrated by captivating characters and tales that have made people both laugh and arrive at a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2025-06-29
Mått152 x 229 x 16 mm
Vikt560 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieLiterary Criticism and Cultural Theory
Antal sidor204
FörlagTaylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN9781041001485

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AcknowledgementIntroductionBrief Literature ReviewScope and Aim of this BookPart I. Folly in History and Culture1. The Fool The Meaning and Origin of the FoolThe Silly FoolThe Serendipitous FoolThe Wise FoolThe JesterThe Holy FoolA Note on the Link between Creativity and Madness2. The Clown Definition and Origin of ClownsClowns in Modern PerformancesThe Circus ClownThe Happy Clown and the Sad ClownThe Evil ClownThe BuffoonThe Trickster or the PranksterCollective ClowningA Note on Humor and Comedic PerformanceII. Folly in Literature and DramaFrom Panurge to FélicitéThe Grotesque and Absurd Fool3. Shakespearean Fool Communal Practices, Popular Entertainment, and Shakespeare’s Jovial PlayersFrom the Rustic Clown to the Wise FoolShakespeare’s Ship of Fools and the Death of the Fool4. Dostoevsky’s Buffoons and PrankstersRussian Folly and DostoevskyHumor and Satire in Dostoevsky’s WorksBuffoons and Pranksters in The Possessed5. Beckett’s Pitiful ClownsThe Absurd Theatre ClownHumor and Comedy in Beckett’s WorkVladimir and Estragon as a Consummate Pseudocouple6. Fictional Fools from Shakespeare to BeckettConclusion: The Transcendent Role of the Fool and the ClownIndex

"Let me begin by saying what an engaging and pleasant read this has been: The author is in solid command of a wide range of diverse and interesting (and fun) examples and does a great job of steering his readers through them."Nicola Behrmann Associate Professor, Rutgers University "The book covers a broad range of materials in sufficient depth to be meaningful but without getting bogged down on any one topic. The pace and range of references, both historical and contemporary, including popular culture, make it engaging to read."Béatrice Otto, Author, Fools are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World