poorlittlevampirebaby

there's something so interesting to me that during their mardi gras party the only makeup men (other than lestat and louis) have on is clown makeup. this is what we'd call a whiteface neat. your pierrot or mime style clown makeup. a very traditional french standard. everyone else is wearing masks. the women even are wearing standard makeup for 1939-40 under their masks with the exception of one woman also in a clown makeup with her (i assume) husband.

i think i counted only four men with this makeup (one of the screencaps i have was a bit too obscured to be entirely sure).

this of course makes a lot of sense. clowns as performance are acceptable, but even more than that this is a european clown makeup. i would imagine in america european clowning has an association with the upper classes (whether it's warranted or not), especially because you would likely see it in the theatre, read: opera, commedia dell'arte. american clowning is very much rooted in the working class, travelling circuses, "freaks", "other". (please keep in mind this is before clowns evolved into common fear and form of horror, all clowning at this time in history was seen as fun and entertainment).

i unfortunately do not have my old notes at hand from my theatre makeup class with all my clown [makeup] history (it's been about four years), so some of my facts may not be entirely accurate. BUT

from my recollection and my continued interest in clowns, clowning, and clown makeup styling, i really love this background design choice to display not only how our vampire family (dressed in 18th century style/homage clothing and makeup, a rather unabashed display of flamboyance and camp in a sea of masks) is other from everyone invited to their party, but those in this clown makeup while different from their peers, are wearing black tie tuxedos and blending in with them more than with louis, lestat, and claudia.