I am Dan Bain

a webcomic that is fun and sad.

Best weekend

More on clowning

today I had the delight of attending a performance of circus Aotearoa and catching up with several of my oldest friends.

The show itself caused several important further realizations on silent clowning, especially cruel clowning, an area I don’t have much interest in but is fairly prevalent. For my retention and perhaps your interest.

- when a clown wins a cruel victory, he must be undone by either his own machinations backfiring or by his excessive celebrations. His hubris must undo him. Otherwise he is not a clown, he teaches no Everyman lesson and is infact just a bit of a dick.

- circus clowning by form seems to require the fourth wall to be broken. Either that or exquisite skill.

- they must be vulnerable and fragile creatures. Even if the exterior is brash, the soul must be a glass bird hanging on a gossamer thread. Otherwise why should we care? what can we relate to?

- clowning is not ” not doing anything” it is doing everything and achieving very little. The world of triumph in tiny victories.

- each time I see it I am further convinced that the convention of the pantomimed conversation is unnecessary. A look and the truth will suffice.

They are in Christchurch for only two more shows, but it is a good show and you will not be disappointed in your attendance.

Google will boost your morale

I heard somewhere that there was a counselling service available in christchurch for quake related sadness. I was curious to know more about this so turned to my friend google. I give you the second result for the search “I am depressed after the christchurch earthquake”

“Oh grief, you really need to stop being so obsessed with yourselves. japan had an eatrthquake thousands of time more portent, and we barely hear about it now. Chch was fortunate. 166 lives were lost but compared to Japan, there were few casualties. I cry for the people of Japan who are still homeless and hunting for their loves ones. I am sick of hearing about Chch. time to move on and start remembering that chch is not the only city that has had an eartquake. Enough already!!”

well. That clears things up pretty well.

Also

I finished bioshock 2 on hard with vita-chambers turned off.
No one I have told this to has been impressed.

Or known what I’m talking about.