Smile of Horror: When the Laughter Dies

They were supposed to make us laugh. Instead, they became our nightmares.The painted smile. The oversized shoes. The exaggerated makeup that transforms a human face into something not quite human. Clowns were designed to entertain children, to bring joy to circuses and birthday parties. So why do so many of us feel that instinctive tightening in our chest when we see one? Why do children scream an...