We fade in on a surreal scene. A clown, stark white from head to toe, sits stiffly at a purple piano. His painted face is unreadable, somewhere between whimsical and unsettling, and his gloved hands mimic playing the keys, though no sound escapes. It’s completely silent, unnervingly so. Personally, I can’t stand clowns. Something about the forced cheer and the exaggerated smiles makes my skin crawl. And this one? He’s not helping the case. I hate it.
Before the silence can get any weirder, a woman’s voice suddenly cuts through the stillness, sharp and commanding. She yells at him in rapid-fire Italian. Something about getting into position. The clown jolts upright and stumbles away, deflated, like a balloon animal kicked out of a birthday party. He scurries out of frame, metaphorical tail tucked firmly between his legs.
Watching this unfold is a woman dressed in a tight, black turtleneck. Her eyes say it all. Unimpressed, detached, maybe even a little bored. It’s as if she’s seen a thousand clowns fake-playing purple pianos and she’s over it.
The scene shifts, and suddenly we’re in the middle of a high-fashion photo shoot. The spotlight is now on a stunning drag queen. She’s powerful, poised, and effortlessly cool, posing like she owns the room.
And who’s flanking her? More clowns. Of course. Because this fever dream isn’t done with us yet, they hover around her like confused backup dancers, all painted faces and floppy limbs. And yes, I still hate it.
It’s chaotic, it’s campy, and it’s drenched in a strange mix of discomfort and style. Like someone mashed together 1970s corporate culture, a fashion editorial, and a recurring childhood nightmare. And yet, I can’t look away.
The rest of the video follows the drag queen’s escapades as she poses in various outfits and prepares to go out on a Saturday night. The clowns are there too. I think they commit a crime. I can’t be sure. You’ll just have to watch the video and tell me, because I’m not about to watch it again. Good luck.
Written by Alana Black | Evolution Media
Contact: ablack23@my.bcit.ca