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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 26 March 2018
Pussy Riot brings anti-Trump message to conservative Idaho

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI messages. It comes as a
Associated Press special counsel investi-
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Ida- gates Russian interference
ho is not the most obvious in the 2016 presidential
place to attract members election and whether there
of the Russian punk collec- was any collusion with the
tive Pussy Riot. Trump campaign.
But even in the Republican Idaho is the only Republi-
stronghold that strongly can-dominant state that
supports President Donald Pussy Riot is visiting during
Trump, Pussy Riot members their North American tour,
carved out time late Satur- which has consisted of
day to swing by the largest stops in bigger, left-leaning
city in the state, Boise, dur- cities like Portland, Oregon;
ing their first North Ameri- Seattle; and Chicago.
can tour. They were drawn to Idaho
"There is power in doing by the small but increas-
what we want, and not ingly popular Treefort Mu-
what they want," said Na- sic Fest, which launched
dezhda Tolokonnikova, in 2011 as a hyper-local
who spent nearly two indie-rock music festival but
years in prison with another has since attracted world-
group member for a pro- wide interest. Other groups
test against Russian Presi- pushed a political agenda, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot performs at El Korah Shrine during Treefort Music Fest in
dent Vladimir Putin in 2012. but Pussy Riot is one of the Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 25, 2018. The show began on Saturday.
"Thank you for supporting most contentious to ap- (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
us." The balaclava-clad pear at the five-day event.
women who rose to global They played their political the anniversary of Trump's Boise resident Adnan Mu- them tonight." Hundreds
prominence with daring music videos on a screen election, and "Make Ameri- minovic, who was standing of other people stood out-
outdoor performances in on a dark stage as audi- ca Great Again," a 2016 hit in line for nearly two hours side the building, wrapping
their home country brought ence members raised their released a week before the to ensure he got a spot for along the block and hop-
a show to Idaho that was fists in solidarity. Attendees presidential election that the show. "I'm Bosnian, so ing to catch a peek of the
more political rally than danced and cheered as focuses on a call to action. I'm not fan of the leader- group, which declined an
traditional concert, featur- the group played "Police "Pussy Riot has been on my ship in Russia. I wanted to interview request from The
ing anti-fascist, anti-Trump State," which came out on radar for several years," said throw my support behind Associated Press.q
No laughing matter: When exactly did clowns become scary?

By MARK KENNEDY David Carlyon, author,
AP Entertainment Writer playwright and a former
NEW YORK (AP) — His nose clown with Ringling Bros.
was round and bright red, and Barnum & Bailey Circus
his face as white as a sheet. in the 1970s, argues that
His mouth was surrounded the fear of clowns — known
by an exaggerated smear officially as coulrophobia
of red makeup and his — is a relatively new phe-
arched eyebrows hung ri- nomenon, born from the
diculously high on his fore- counter-culture 1960s and
head. emerging as a popular
Such was the daily uniform force in the 1980s.
of Bozo the Clown, who en- "There is no ancient fear of
tertained kids for decades clowns," he said. "It wasn't
when TV was in its infancy. like there was this panic
It's also a uniform that for rippling through Madison
many now seems gro- Square Garden as I walked
tesque and sinister. up through the seats. Not
The death of longtime Bozo at all."
performer Frank Avruch this Carlyon said clowns were
week triggered both feel- considered sweet and fun-
ings — warm memories ny for two centuries until an
from some and a shiver of inevitable backlash that
fear from others who asso- included Stephen King's
ciate clowns more with the hit novel "It," the film "Pol- This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Bill Skarsgard as the evil clown Pennywise in
film "It." tergeist," Heath Ledger's a scene from the film "It," based on the book by Stephen King.
Which begs the question: white-faced maniac Joker, (Brooke Palmer/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
When exactly did clowns the misanthrope Krusty the
go from birthday-party Clown from "The Simpsons," much glorification and is covered the cover of a Na- available evidence that
goofy to downright sinister? the shock band Insane sentimentalized within an tional Lampoon from 1979 kids were afraid of clowns
Well, hold onto your really Clown Posse and Homey D. inch of its life invites some- with a girl cowering in fear in the '40s, the '50s, the '60s,
big shoes — experts are di- Clown from "In Living Color." one to snark at it," said of a malevolent clown. the '70s," he said. "Who said
vided. "Anything that gets that Carlyon, who recently dis- "There's nothing in any that about Red Skelton?"q