OPEN SEMIOTICS RESOURCE CENTER

Virtual Symposia

The Toronto Semiotic Circle organized a symposium on "Earth, Fire, Water: Matter and Meaning in Rituals" held at Victoria College (University of Toronto), Northrop Frye Hall, Room 007, on May 31 – June 1, 2013.

The Toronto Semiotic Circle acknowledges the support of Victoria University, Victoria College’s Principal Office, St. Michael College’s Principal Office, The University of Toronto’s Department of French Studies, and the University of Stockholm’s Department of History of Religions.

Playing with Water and Fire in Circus Performances: Slapstick as Secular Ritual

Abstract

The traditional arts of the circus have become a part of the secular cultural landscape in modern times. However, in pre-modern times, its performers were considered as possessing dangerous, unholy powers and they caused both fascination and fear. They were commonly persecuted by religious and civil authorities. The circus techniques are indeed rooted in ancient magic rituals. This paper will discuss the use of water and fire in clown acts as they can be observed today. The focus will be the stereotypic character of the White-face clown which plays the role of the trickster, a function which has been well documented in many myths and rituals across a wide array of cultures. Splashing water on transgressors is observed in a host of traditional clown acts whose meaning can be related to more ancient forms of punishment. Some examples will be presented. The use of fire is also noticeable in clown acts. A traditional scenario will be discussed to show that the manipulation of these forms of matter is endowed with a deeper meaning than we may figure out from their appearance of being mere nonsensical slapsticks.