Why does It have a clown form in his repertoire of forms?

Creepy! Anything is possible, but I suspect it was because clowns are 'safe' figures in the eyes of parents, who 1) don't stress when they see their kid talking to a clown, and 2) encourage children to spend time with clowns. It interests me that many kids do so under duress, as they are actually uneasy around clowns. I know I personally was very wary, and no amount of, "Just go say hi to the clown, honey" would get me to go near one as a child. Not even Ronald McDonald, with his seductive hamburgers and fries that were rare treats for us. I would pass them up and stay in the car if I had a suspicion that damn clown was in the building.

skimom2 said:

Creepy! Anything is possible, but I suspect it was because clowns are 'safe' figures in the eyes of parents, who 1) don't stress when they see their kid talking to a clown, and 2) encourage children to spend time with clowns. It interests me that many kids do so under duress, as they are actually uneasy around clowns. I know I personally was very wary, and no amount of, "Just go say hi to the clown, honey" would get me to go near one as a child. Not even Ronald McDonald, with his seductive hamburgers and fries that were rare treats for us. I would pass them up and stay in the car if I had a suspicion that damn clown was in the building.

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....yep, yep...

skimom2 said:

Creepy! Anything is possible, but I suspect it was because clowns are 'safe' figures in the eyes of parents, who 1) don't stress when they see their kid talking to a clown, and 2) encourage children to spend time with clowns. It interests me that many kids do so under duress, as they are actually uneasy around clowns. I know I personally was very wary, and no amount of, "Just go say hi to the clown, honey" would get me to go near one as a child. Not even Ronald McDonald, with his seductive hamburgers and fries that were rare treats for us. I would pass them up and stay in the car if I had a suspicion that damn clown was in the building.

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Spot on!!

Get them close... so he grab them. Little kids don't run from clowns and colorful balloons. Like those fish with the dangler.... He lures the kids nice and close with bright colors and his made up face... Then boom grabs them and well we all know what happens next..Those that fear clowns...he had other ways of getting.

Oh Oh also from when they where looking back at old photos over the years... The clown was one of those most easy ways blend in for adults. Since some adults find clowns funny. He cloud just update his look from different type of clowns over the years... since clowns been around long time

A clown is an easy way to lure, and with IT being a lazy predator. It seems like an easy way to get the food it wants.

dedMasque said:

So this is a question I've always had about It. Why would a supernatural demonic being from another Universe take the form of a clown in the first place? Obviously, there is the aspect of It's utilization of the clown form to cause fear in children. But why this clown? Where did It conceive of the idea of this specific clown?

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Heh. I'm going to take a stab at this. Many people, including myself, point out that clowns were not always reviled and feared. So there is the theory that it used the clown shape as a lure. That sounds good, but I don't think that is the most accurate answer. I'll sum up what I think at the end.

I think the answer is in The Dark Tower. Now, I may be completely incorrect in this because it may be an Easter egg that only appears in the movie so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. BUT. It may not be for the reason you may think of off the top of your head. It does involve, however, the Pennywise theme park scene though. Now, our malevolent clown does not actually have a theme park named after him. However, I think he assumed the name of Pennywise the Dancing Clown from this theme park. But it wasn't from the original clown Pennywise himself. Oh no...it's actually much darker, and much more sinister. I think the original Pennywise whose name is seen displayed in the theme park as one of the attractions had...a child. And I think that in this particular child's case, his number one greatest fear...was his father. Who was the original...Pennywise the Dancing Clown. And when It encountered this child to consume him this is when It became Pennywise the Dancing Clown. And in fact, this child was so afraid of his father, and so afraid of It in this form that was literally the best 'salted meat' he had ever tasted. And now he wants the same taste again and favors the clown as a form in an attempt to find a child this 'salted' again. Thought's and opinions?

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This is an interesting idea, and I'm not going to cast shade on the tone of it. I just don't think this is the most accurate answer either. The creature that sometimes goes as Pennywise is an avatar of a mad gibbering entity outside of reality known as the Deadlights. The Deadlights themselves are so far removed from us that even communication is impossible once you get too close. Attempting to assign any rational, logical reasoning to it is risky.

So what do I really think? The monster, horrific as it may be, has a sense of humor. The default of the clown is a narcissistic affectation chosen by the avatar. It is a fingerling of the Deadlights and only takes on logical thought, a type of sentience if you will as it gets closer to us. All of these concepts come from our minds. It doesn't just take fears from us. It is largely formless and everything about it in our world is taken from us. The monster sees itself as one of only two cosmic entities, an immortal God. Everything is about It. To the creature we are nothing but convenient food and it is the center of the universe. It is having a good old time at our expense. It is the clown and all the world loves a clown. It is all a cosmic joke. Do you see what I'm getting at?

I think the monster has a massive portfolio of forms it can take. I think it takes energy to shift and change and it can do so without tapping the immediate victim's mind. I think the Pennywise form is its preference because it is practiced and probably takes less effort. More than that however, the monster likes being a clown as part of its own private joke. There are lots of BETTER lures it could take if it so desired. It could appear like a lost love or a best friend. The monster chooses to appear as a clown when not "salting the meat" because it is making a mad statement about reality, that it is all a big joke, a cosmic circus... and everybody knows the clowns are the real stars of the circus.

Really besides luring Georgie it really just uses Pennywise the Dancing Clown to fool with the Losers. I don't remember it using its clown form to commit any direct acts of violence.

Wayoftheredpanda said:

Really besides luring Georgie it really just uses Pennywise the Dancing Clown to fool with the Losers. Besides Georgie's death and the interlude with the bradely gang I don't remember it using its clown form to commit any direct acts of violence.

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