comic
The comic possesses the ability to collapse cultural categories. By con-
founding and confusing social distinctions, the comic suggests that the
socially lowly are valuable, advocating that the comic is also more equal-
itarian, inclusive, and empathetic. The comic perspective is socially nec-
essary in order for humans to avoid tragedy, to become free, and
magnanimous.
Among Native American Indians of North America, the clown and
trickster personify figures who are embodiments of the comic. The clown
is a figure of self-contradiction, manifests contempt for all status, functions
as an imposter, breaks taboos, receives punishment for his transgressions,
and assumes the role of a disorderly figure. These general characteristics
of a clown are manifested by the clown’s undignified, unreasonable, gro-
tesque and even idiotic behavior, such as the Pueblo clowns that bur-
lesque sacred dancers and lampoon holy figures, Hopi clowns that dress
like women and perform obscene stunts in public, Zuni clowns that eat
refuse, or Hopi clowns that drink gallons of urine.
In addition to these major characteristics of the clown, there is a close
relationship between them and healing because they are believed to pos-
sess magical medicine among Native Americans. The clowns acquire
their healing powers by violating a taboo. Within Native American
Indian religions, clowns grant success in hunting and war, and give luck
in gambling, love, happiness, and prosperity. From another perspective,
clowns are feared because they can inflict disease and cause suffering,
but they also make people laugh and enable them to escape everyday
problems for a time.
In contrast to the clown, the trickster is often depicted in the folklore
of indigenous religions as a wandering vagabond, who can assume human
or animal forms. The animal form suggests the trickster’s clever and wily
traits. Whatever forms he assumes, the trickster is an individualist who
survives by means of his personal cunning and prowess, although he can
also be ignorant and foolish. Thus it is not unusual to find him outwitting
others and himself at the same time, scenarios that unfold within the
context of a world of games.
The basic metaphor for the life of the trickster is the trick, which
means that tricking and being tricked are inevitable features of the
struggle to survive. Since the world is full of tricks and life plays tricks
on us, it is necessary for the trickster to rely on his own abilities to
endure in the trickiness of life. Due in part to the nature of the world
and his own nature, the trickster does not have a clearly defined social
status and wanders from one misadventure to another, which are episodes
devoid of logic or dramatic connection. By grabbing the necessities of