Why clowns like the 'Joker' give us the creeps
為什麼類似於電影《小丑》中的形象會讓我們毛骨悚然
Hollywood has long exploited ourdeep ambivalence about clowns, and this fall's film lineup is nodifferent. How did a mainstay ofchildren's birthday parties startto become an embodiment of pureevil?
好萊塢長久以來都在用我們對小丑深深的矛盾情緒來牟利，而今年秋天的幾部電影也不例外。這個孩子們生日聚會上的臺柱子怎麼就開始成為一個純粹邪惡的化身呢？
In fact, a 2008 study conducted inEngland revealed that very fewchildren actually like clowns. Italso concluded that the commonpractice of decorating children'swards in hospitals with picturesof clowns may create the exactopposite of a nurturingenvironment.
其實，一項 2008 年在英格蘭進行的研究顯示，只有很少的孩子真正喜歡小丑。這項研究還得出了一個結論——用小丑的圖片來裝飾孩子們的醫院病房這樣一種慣常做法，可能會營造出一個與充滿愛心的氛圍截然相反的環境。
Psychology can help explain whyclowns often end up sendingchills down our spines.
心理學有助於解釋為什麼小丑往往最後會讓我們脊背發涼。
Rami Nader is a Canadianpsychologist who studies theirrational fear of clowns. Naderbelieves that clown phobias arefueled by the fact that clownswear makeup and disguises thathide their true identities andfeelings.
拉米·內德是一位研究人們對小丑懷有無端恐懼這一現象的加拿大心理學家。他相信，小丑畫的妝以及穿戴的偽裝物可以隱藏他們真實的身份和情緒，而正是這些東西激化了人們的小丑恐懼症。
People interacting with a clownduring one of his routines neverknow if they are about to get a piein the face or be the victim ofsome other humiliating prank. The highly unusual physicalcharacteristics of the clown — thewig, the red nose, the makeup, theodd clothing — only magnify theuncertainty of what the clownmight do next.
在小丑的某個固定表演節目中，和他進行互動的人們從來不知道他們接下來是會被餡餅扣到臉上，還是成為某個其他丟臉惡作劇的受害者。小丑極度不尋常的物理特徵（假髮、紅鼻子、妝容、以及怪異的服裝）只會增加他們接下來可能要做之事的不確定性。
It is the inherent ambiguitysurrounding clowns that makesthem creepy.
正是小丑自帶的不確定性，讓他們變得驚悚。