Petra Seiz

‚Send in the clown‘ is an expression that comes from the circus, where clowns were sent out into the circus ring to entertain the audience when there were problems. It is also a phrase that is said when something goes wrong, but there is a need to keep things going. It is similar in meaning to the show must go on. In today’s society we cultivate the desire to fit in and conform. Even though feeling sad and miserable is quite a usual and normal emotion, depressive moods are seen as a weakness or vulnerability. So, in relation to the idiom ‚Send in the clown‘, we put on a show, play a role, give a fake smile and pretend that everything is alright.