ITT-The Jester, Fool--The "Joker"

"The fool is a social type having certain definable roles and a special status and function in group life. Fools represent departures from group norms of propriety which are subject to the sanction of ridicule. Fool-making is a continuous social process and operates to enforce propriety and to adjust status."

source:
The Fool as a Social Type
Orrin E. Klapp
The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 55, No. 2 (Sep., 1949), pp. 157-162
Published by: The University of Chicago Press

In the middle ages they were believed to have been touched by God with a "child-like madness."

"Who Is Not a Fool?" ["Qui non stultus?"]
?Horace (65-8 B.C.), Satires, 2.3.158

Example: TheGuardianofArlon may very well be an example of a modern day "Fool." However, in order to survive, fools had to be anything but foolish--they could "jest" about the monarchies in a relatively safe manner because their jests were often not taken seriously by those in power--they were simply...amusing.

After the English Civil War (1642-1651) the court jester essentially died out in England. It continued in France and Italy in the Commedia Del Arte ("comedy of professional artists"). The famous "Punch and Judy" show came out of this and was re-adapted for English audiences later on.

Wikipedia describes Punch: "The stereotypical view of Punch casts him as a deformed, child-murdering, wife-beating psychopath who commits appalling acts of violence and cruelty upon all those around him and escapes with impunity; this is greatly enjoyed by small children."

The idea of a joker, court jester, fool, buffoon, etc. is widespread in modern culture, but it's origins are not widely known (it would seem). So what do any of you know about the origins of the "joker?" Scholarly articles are welcome (although they seem scarce). I'm going to be writing a paper on the subject of English Court Jesters during the Tudor Period and will return with my own results.

One of the better stories I found (set in India) went something like this (paraphrasing):

An Indian King loved his parrot so much that he declared "whomever informs me that my parrot has died, will be executed." When the parrot finally died, the king's fool went to the king and said "Sire, your parrot seems to have entered into a trance." The king went to check and exclaimed "My parrot is dead!" The fool responded, "then according to your own law, sire, will you be killing yourself now?"

[image=http://www.ludicrum.org/media/Stanczyk2.jpg]

 

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I know a lot about me
will I get stalkers now?

 

[image=http://blog.beliefnet.com/astrologicalmusings/images/fool-tarot-card.gif]
The Fool represents the unknown, as well as the untested hero. He is the card of beginnings and the unexpected.

In my deck, Luke Skywalker is The Fool.

 

The jester: fool, buffoon, clown, jongleur, jogleor, joculator, sot, stultor, scurra, fou, truhan, mimus, histrio, morio.

"Now, this is what made me advance my argument so far into this matter of laughter, the nicest and most exciting that has ever been touched. For from one proposition I am led to another, and with a curious desire I go searching constantly, as though insatiable, all that I can grasp. I think that surely I shall never finish, and that there will always be more to say or add." Laurent Joubert, Le traite du ris (1579

So far, what I'm finding is that the jester was indeed, far from a fool. This type of person often had to rely on his/her wit to stay alive--it might have taken only one slip (serving a monarch in such a way would be quite tricky). The origins of this clown are a bit more mysterious to me right now, but it seems anyone could become a "jester" as the tradition is based more on something universal than purely cultural.

In regards to the Joker (the Batman villain [dark knight version at least]), it seems that there were, in fact, clowns who purposely cut their faces in a similar fashion as the aforementioned murdering psychopath.

Perhaps, jokers, appear universal because a vast majority of the human race is in fact, insane at some level.

Maybe it's just like gravity.

 

You're the fool

 

Surely you jest!

 

He's quite serious. And don't call him Shirley.

 

You're the foolery now, Tom.

 

...Why are we talking about this?

 

[image=http://www.personal.psu.edu/scd5029/blogs/was_ist_das/joker_poster_crop.jpg]
Because who doesn't love a good joke?
Because who is a fool?
Because Stephen Colbert.
Because I jest.

Because I am fool and you can be too!

[image=http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/RS1013~Jon-Stewart-and-Stephen-Colbert-Rolling-Stone-no-1013-November-2006-Posters.jpg]

 

What is often regarded as foolishness is often disregarded. It may be much easier to offer opposition to any establishment through actions that seem downright foolish.

Court Jesters balanced between life and death--hanging on to their ability to deliver eloquent well-thought out, witty quips and responses. If one were to play a good fool, one could potentially offer resistance to any establishment no matter how powerful.

Modern day clowns seem to take inspiration from the ancient court jesters (white-faced clowns being regarded as the most "intelligent").

The three pronged floppy hats, each tip referred to as a liliripe, were thought to be reminiscent of an ass's head.

I would rather be a fool.
How foolish to desire foolery when I am already foolish.
Would it be less foolish to desire wisdom?
Then I would be assuming myself a fool, which I would rather be.
Rather than be a fool who seeks foolishness, should I be wise and seek wisdom?
How can I be a fool and seek wisdom when seeking wisdom seems so wise?
What's the more foolish?
I am a fool.

I think the reason clowns always creeped me out is that they always seemed to know more than they were letting on--their innocence, or supposed inferiority at times appeared to be a complete ruse--yet it was the ruse that gave them so much power over people.

The fool seems to be quite a powerful political force--one that seems to be often overlooked.

People like Stephen Colbert are a really good example.

 

Ah, but who is the more foolish...The Fool...Or the Fool who follows...

I agree here,a Jester who doesn't know when he has gone too far is a dead jester - well, when referring to the olden days where people had there heads cut off...

 

Here's one of the jester stories I found for an 8 page research paper I recently finished:

?Now, tell me, saies Will, if you can, what it is that, being borne without life, head, lippe, or eye, yet doth runne roaring through the world till it dye. This is a wonder, quoth the king, and no question; I know it not. Why, quoth Will, it is a fart? (Otto 90-91)

source: Otto, Beatrice K. Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001.

Another example of jester awesomeness (I'm quoting/paraphrasing from Otto here):

"For example: Edward III in the 14th century routed the French army, which was serving Philippe VI?when this happened, the one to break the bad news to the French King was none other than his loyal jester (Otto). The jester went to the king and shouted ??The English cowards! The lily-livered English!? The king asked him why he was saying this, and he answered, ?Because they don?t even have the guts to jump into the water like our brave French!? The king realized he had lost the battle? (Otto 113)."

source: Otto, Beatrice K. Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001.

The recent incident with Stephen Colbert involving his followers voting for the space station name: "Colbert" reminds me of what you just said about fools following fools. Who's really the fool? Of course, in this instance, I don't consider it a loss for a space station room to be named after Colbert.

The court jester, specifically, died out, but there are still plenty of "fools" around. The court jester just happened to be extra...well they used death-defying wit. Also there were court jestresses as well.