Amazing new research shows the origin of clown faces

[tkingdoll]

From Nature:

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080401/full/news.2008.715.html

New research has revealed that the red nose and face-painting traditionally associated with clowns may have its origins in science.

Psychologist Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom used highly sensitive infrared imagers to observe people as they laughed at jokes and video clips. The devices were able to accurately map heat changes in the face.

Check out the infrared image in the article!

Pierrot Auguste, president of the International Association of Clowns, Mimes and Stilt-walkers in Paris, says, "This new research helps reveal the science underlying our art, and we hope that those in the humour-related professions will now be taken more seriously".

[Ysidro]

Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep clown will eat me.... *shudder*

[Lothian]

I would have hoped Richard would have come up with something better than this.

[tkingdoll]

I would have hoped Richard would have come up with something better than this.

Why? It's already had a big impact on the clowning world, which has long-sought to find an explanation for the traditional Auguste make-up. Did you look at the infrared image?

[Normal Dude]

Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep, clown will eat me. Can't sleep clown will eat me....

Funnily enough, I am wearing that shirt right now.

[Rob Lister]

Why? It's already had a big impact on the clowning world, which has long-sought to find an explanation for the traditional Auguste make-up. Did you look at the infrared image?

I think that is the similarity is strictly coincidental. The red nose, for example, is thought to originate from the drunk (or so my buddy who attended clown college once told me). Additionally, you'll find as many examples of red painted mouths as the reverse.

Richard should rethink his conclusions.

[tkingdoll]

I think that is the similarity is strictly coincidental. The red nose, for example, is thought to originate from the drunk (or so my buddy who attended clown college once told me). Additionally, you'll find as many examples of red painted mouths as the reverse.

Richard should rethink his conclusions.

The drunk or hobo was a much later addition to the clowning scene. The original red nose face predates it by at least 30 years.

I think his conclusions are appropriate.

[Dancing David]

Looks like a small sample study to me, we will have to wait for replication!

:D

[Lothian]

Why? It's already had a big impact on the clowning world, which has long-sought to find an explanation for the traditional Auguste make-up. Did you look at the infrared image?Richard work is often interesting and/or controversial, this is dull. Given that he has had a year to work on this paper I would have thought it would have been more shocking in its conclusions.

Perhaps it is me.

[tkingdoll]

Richard work is often interesting and/or controversial, this is dull. Given that he has had a year to work on this paper I would have thought it would have been more shocking in its conclusions.

Perhaps it is me.

Given his background in clowning, it's not surprising he's gone for this subject. But I don't think Nature have published the full story. I'm sure he knows what he's doing, I trust this article complicitly.

[Darat]

Oh I bet you do.

[Deetee]

The article is written by "Lori Floap".

;)

Teek, please tell us that infrared image is really from you.....
Is it Gazawhatsit when you tickle his tootsies?

I know someone (sorta) who has been in Nature... Yay!

[Darat]

I've seen quite a few articles by her over the years, certainly they are usually rather frivolous stories but isn't your objection to her really just an ad hom?

[Deetee]

I was reading Respectful Insolence's April Fool post on coffee enemas before I logged into JREF.
At first I thought Teek had written: "origin of clown faeces".

[mhaze]

Here is the problem.

IR on the clowns faces show they are not really laughing....

[GreyICE]

April 1st...

[tkingdoll]

Teek, please tell us that infrared image is really from you.....



It really is!

The photo was taken by gazawhatsit, the model is my brother-in-law Stuart, and my sister and I worked on the 'heat map' photoshopping together in our usual guise as Team Awesome Kings. The copyright is actually owned by my company but my name was a bit less obvious than a marketing one :D

All in all a successful prank, methinks. Chortle!

[Skeptic Guy]

Richard work is often interesting and/or controversial, this is dull. Given that he has had a year to work on this paper I would have thought it would have been more shocking in its conclusions.

Perhaps it is me.

(Bolding mine.) Obviously, you need to read it while wearing a hand-buzzer.

[dudalb]

Hey any thread in which Evil Clowns are mentioned would not be complete without one reference to this gentleman:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_1884047f2c5d1468b5.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=11557)

[Badger]

It really is!

The photo was taken by gazawhatsit, the model is my brother-in-law Stuart, and my sister and I worked on the 'heat map' photoshopping together in our usual guise as Team Awesome Kings. The copyright is actually owned by my company but my name was a bit less obvious than a marketing one :D

All in all a successful prank, methinks. Chortle!

....from which many grants and studies will result...

[Wolfman]

Teek...I sent you a PM a few days ago, can you please confirm if you received it or not?

[tkingdoll]

Teek...I sent you a PM a few days ago, can you please confirm if you received it or not?

*checks*

Yes I did! I just emptied my inbox cause it was full and wouldn't let me reply just now.