Down With The Clown Until They're Dead In The Ground

“Juggalo or Juggalette (the latter being feminine) is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics.”

(Source: Wikipedia.org)

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Society has been puzzled by Juggalos since their commencement. Label them as outcasts, pin them as degenerates, or sum them up as gypsy rednecks...the Juggalos walk among us.

The Gathering of the Juggalos, which is the largest assemblage of Juggalos, occurs annually and draws gigantic crowds of the misunderstood. Every August, thousands trek to Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, with Faygo orange soda and cheese doodles in hand.

The event appears to allow this group to practice freely and with very little restriction. Therefore, among these circumstances, the Juggalos do not recognize any social injustices to revolt against. Their beliefs are unchallenged and they are merely given the right to exist and congregate peacefully. Essentially, with no opposition or control, the outsiders feel less threatened and, consequently, less defensive. Troubled individuals seem to feel attracted to the group because they are not generally accepted in regular society. The tribe accepts any type of person, and they consider one another family.

On the other hand, there are reported Juggalo gangs whom very often resort to illegal and violent acts, much like any other criminal gang.

In “American Juggalo,” a short documentary clocking in at approximately 22 minutes, the annual gathering is showcased. The Juggalos often paint their faces black and white in a clown-esque design, emulating the members of the music group Insane Clown Posse, or ICP.

Generally perceived as a group of social rejects, the lifestyle and basic practices of the Juggalo are frowned upon and unaccepted. They created a distinct chant: “woop-woop.” Chants like this, repeated in this fashion, are often used to identify a fellow member or at times of excitement among crowds and gatherings.

The majority of the followers appear to be under the influence of drugs. In “American Juggalo,” a Juggalette undergoing an interview admitted to being “fucked up on E (Ecstasy) and vodka.” Of course, they are a very lost group whom gathers for comfort. Using drugs so explicitly stems from certain reason and aggravation. A man in a rap segment of the documentary raps about stabbing a woman and eating her, among other crude acts. Obviously these are rather troubled thoughts.

Thus, coalitions against Juggalos have developed. Labeled as the “Juggalo Holocaust,” they broadcast a certain prejudiced message to the public: “kill the clowns.” Due to the Juggalo Holocaust movement, multiple violent acts have occurred against known Juggalos.

Strange and misunderstood, the Juggalos share the plagues of many minorities. Society's norms once again attack diversity.

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In closing, I conclude my studies with an excerpt of lyrics from Insane Clown Posse's “What Is A Juggalo?” so that the Juggalos may speak for themselves:

“What is a Juggalo?

Let me think for a second

Oh, he gets butt-naked

And then he walks through the streets

Winking at the freaks

With a two-liter stuck in his butt-cheeks”

"Portlandia"-- Hipsters don't own television sets anyway

If you find yourself, dear reader, reclining within the darkened solace of your living room, be not afraid of the vegan feminist bicycle rider inside your television set. You have merely stumbled upon “Portlandia,” IFC’s new sketch-comedy brainchild, which made its television debut in January 2011.

Created, written by, and starring SNL cast member Fred Armisen, the program pokes fun at Portland, Oregon’s hipster (yuppie) culture. It has been received as both endearing and disrespectful.
Featuring Portland local Carrie Brownstein, former member of Sleater-Kinney, as Armisen’s co-star, the duo make for a shamelessly entertaining twosome, oftentimes adopting gender-bending roles.

There is much irony to be found here. The demographic that the show represents is not vast; most characters easily fall under the “DIY-crust-punk” stigma, or something of that nature.

It is frightening to look at one’s sacred hipster culture in retrospect—you may believe that you are oh-so-very unique and progressive, but when everyone around you is exactly the same as you, you realize that you are merely a follower. The tragedy is that there are very few leaders in society; it is truly an audacious action to attempt to alter the current fads. But it has been done before, and it will be done again. In fact, it is happening as I write this. A select few of the sad, unoriginal hipster souls will (doubtingly) bring upon a revolution—right after they’re done polishing their oxfords and ironing their cardigans.The paradox being that many of these individuals boast themselves to be anti-television, thus, they are unable to even watch IFC’s slapstick comedy. But Tom with the fixed-gear bike and the good weed told them the show is “corporate bullshit” anyway.

Matters of opinion

I posted an older Yeah Yeah Yeahs song entitled “Art Star” onto my Facebook page recently, and offhandedly united the video with the declaration, “The best Yeah Yeah Yeahs song ever.”
A friend of mine, in a rather lofty nature, enlightened me that my above statement was, indeed, “a bold claim.”

Of course, all entertainment journalism is merely a matter of opinion. With that said, Rolling Stone’s top 100 songs compilation also falls within the realm of such boldness. In attempts to contradict me, my friend contradicted herself.

Truly, the media would not exist without a blatant, pompous audacity regarding opinion. It is beginning to seem as if humans enjoy being told what to like, simply so they may revolt against the norm. As a result, “this is what you like” translates into “this is what you hate.”
And we have all met this sort of contradicting person, the type of fellow whom hates Seinfeld, or the kind of gal whom hates whatever is loved. If I meet an individual who dislikes pizza, for example, this is an immediate red flag to me. Yes, sometimes they are merely searching for more intimate media sources, those which they feel a specific connection to (homegrown roots, if you will), but, oftentimes, they are just getting a huge figurative hard on from swimming against the current of the common consensus.

I suppose I could have deemed “Man” or “Pin” as the ultimate Yeah Yeah Yeahs song, but alas, whichever song I choose, I will never be correct, and neither will anybody else.