Analysis of a Contemporary Moral Panic in Relation to the Processual Model

Analysis of a Contemporary Moral Panic in Relation to the Processual

CONTEMPORARY MORAL PANIC CASE

STUDY ANALYSIS - KILLER CLOWNS
The Processual Model

Nelson, Charlotte
24021770
 Charlotte Nelson

Introduction

Stan Cohen noted that societies appear to be subject, every now and then, to periods of moral panic; moral
panics emerge and propose a threat to societal values (Cohen, 1973:9). Since Cohens definition based on his
study of the Mods and Rockers moral panic in 1964, many more social problems have been identified as moral
panics, from paedophilia and child abuse to binge drinking and raves. These moral panics fit Cohens definition,
the Processual Model and the six stages of this model can be used to analyse recent social problems to conclude
on the status as a moral panic. The 2016 Killer Clown social problem, will be critically examined in relation to
the Processual Model to explore the complexity of this problem as a contemporary moral panic.

Social Issue - Killer Clowns

In August 2016, people dressed as clowns began frightening communities across America and Europe. The
problem began in South Carolina after reports of clowns luring children into the woods attracted national news.
The sightings continued across America, during August and September it was reported that clowns were
allegedly attacking children resulting in school lockdowns. Over 20 states of America and areas of Canada
warned escalation in incidents, leading to hundreds of arrests and police investigations. The problem continued
into October 2016, when official reports noted that these creepy (The Guardian, 2016) clowns had appeared
in England. Sightings continued across Essex, Cheshire, North Wales, Dundee, London, Manchester, Newcastle
and Sheffield.

Theme of Fear

Moral panics tend to show underlying fears about issues that hit the core of society (Luce, 2013). There is a
sustained dominant fear of masked individuals in society, it is a societal concern for the face to be hidden.
Cavanagh (2007) noted that moral panics reflect social anxieties and concerns about behaviour that is seen as
some sort of moral threat. Clowns have been in society for centuries, two decades ago people dressed as clowns
for entertainment and Halloween, now they are presented as folk devils, a threat to societal values and
children. Clowns have become part of popular culture, the Joker in Batman and Pennywise a demonic entity
(Phipps, 2016), featured in Stephen Kings 1986 novel It. Unlike other social problems recognised as moral
panics, clowns are an identifiable fear - coulrophobia is the name given to those who have a specific fear of
clowns. Furthermore, a study commissioned by the University of Sheffield in 2008 concluded that children
universally dislike clowns, finding images of clowns frightening and unknowable (Gaines Lewis, 2012). The
medias use of emotive and sensitive language stimulated a greater existing fear of the unknowable hidden folk
devil. Svendsen (2008) argued that inflicting fear on the public is possibly the most effective tool for the media
to sell newspapers. However, it could be argued that it is highly difficult to communicate the facts of Killer
Clown craze without imposing fear due the nature of the issue.

2
 Charlotte Nelson

Analysis of Killer Clowns

Cohen suggested the initial phase of a moral panic is when a condition, episode, person or group of persons
emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values. (Cohen, 1973:9). The killer clown panic emerged
from the belief that murdering clowns were lurking in the shadows (The Mirror, 2016) praying on children and
schools across America (Appendix 1). Terrifying and murdering innocent children is ultimately a threat to
societal values, however it is difficult to determine the extent of these crimes and if anyone was in fact
murdered by a killer clown. However, dressing as a clown and committing murder is not new deviant behaviour,
a young boy was killed by French man Jean-Gaspard Deburau dressed as a clown in 1836, after the boy was
reportedly shouting insults at him. Additionally, between 1972 and 1978, John Wayne Gacy sexually assaulted
and killed 33 young men, while also working as Pogo the clown at childrens parties in Chicago (Goldhill in The
Telegraph, 2016).

Media/ Discourse Analysis

It is important to examine the links between the media and this deviant behaviour. Cohens work is focused on
the social and media reactions to moral panics, rather than the explanations for the deviant and delinquent
behaviour. Cohen identifies that his research was more a study of moral panics than of folk devils (Cohen,
1980). Cohen notes that the nature of moral panics are presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the
mass media. 'Traditional media channels reacted to the problem by exaggerating the truth, naming these
clowns - killers (The Sun, 2016), despite any confirmed evidence of homicide. Furthermore, The Daily Star used
extremely emotive language, creating panic amongst many parents and children, that these clowns could attack
any child at any time (Appendix 2). Horror as knife-wielding clown craze sweeps UK terrifying schoolkids (The
Daily Star, 2016). Sensitisation is apparent in the response of the media, the ambiguous situation of Killer
Clowns is transformed into a potent generalised threat (Cohen, 2011:81) by hysteria. The reaction of the media
associates killer clowns with the societal anxiety of paedophilia by focusing on children. Knife-wielding (The
Guardian, 2016), chased terrified schoolgirl (Evening Standard, 2016), tot screaming in terror (The Sun, 2016),
Clown Perv Alert (The Sun, 2016). There is dominant discourse across the media outlets, most traditional press
online and print presented the issue in a similar emotive style, focusing on the threat to children.

Despite input of the traditional press, social media played the central role in igniting this social problem into a
potential moral panic. However, social media is not controlled by one single group, differently to the tabloid
press, any member of the public can publically present literature online, despite its legitimacy. Social media
influences the masses but is also controlled by the masses, consequently authorities lack control on managing
the problems dispersion. Additionally, the folk devils themselves influenced reaction on social media, Facebook
accounts are active for the alleged killer clowns and imposed panic on communities with threats to children
and schools online (Appendix 6). Bartholomew (2016) stated that social media plays a pivotal role in spreading
these rumour-panics which travel around the globe in the blink of an eyethey are part of a greater moral panic
about the fear of strangers (The Guardian, 2016). Social media platforms are increasingly used for the spread

3
 Charlotte Nelson

of information; however, lack of control is leading to increased scaremongering. Social media, itself is a stranger,
the technical device used to post, is a mask hiding the face of individuals.

Additionally, Critcher (2016) notes that key visuals accompany the social issue - the iconography of moral
panics, in this case, images of frightening clowns were used in most reports of the issue (Appendix 8). All articles
and social media analysed included an image of a killer clown, the use of images escorting the emotive
discourse creates further hysteria and panic.

Reaction Analysis

In any new social issue, it is difficult to exclude the voices of large social groups and moral entrepreneurs who
contribute to the debate; these individuals who disapprove of the deviant behaviour, pressure authorities to
resolve the problem. Cohen (1972) states the moral barricades are manned by editors, bishops, politicians and
other right-thinking people. In the Killer Clown case, moral entrepreneurs are not easily identifiable, as the
issue only spanned a three-month period globally. Nevertheless, in the UK, the NSPCC did respond to the
problem by warning children to stay away from people in clown costumes and to report sightings to the police,
after concerns that Halloween could be used an as opportunity to molest, intimidate or harm children (The
Guardian, 2016). The social problem is exaggerated in both scale and frequency, categorised as a threat to
traditional values by moral entrepreneurs again focusing on the threat to the most fragile in society - children.

Cohen noted socially accredited experts pronounce their diagnoses and solutions to the moral panic (Cohen,
1972). In the case of the Killer Clown Craze (Daily Star, 2016), socially accredited experts are not
distinguishable. However, many sociologists and psychologists pronounced their diagnoses, Dr Lynes
commented The very act of hiding ones face is also very powerful, potentially leading these individuals to act
in a way they normally would not when their faces are visible (The Mirror, 2016). The experts made the
association of this social issue with the universal moral panic - fear of the stranger.

Cohen (1972) notes ways of coping are evolved or (more often) resorted to, as this is a global case, America
and the UK coped with the problem similarly. It is still not illegal to wear a clown mask in public, as clowns are
still a profession for many across the USA and UK. However, many arrests were made globally for this deviant
behaviour, a Kentucky, USA police statement commented while dressing up is not, in and of itself against law,
doing so in public and thereby creating an unnecessary sense of alarm is illegal (The Mirror, 2016), likewise the
UK police force noted that threatening people and acting in a threatening manner is illegal. Additionally, no new
legislation was created because of this issue, unlike other social problems classified as moral panics such as the
development of the Sex Offenders Act during the paedophilia moral panic.

Complexity of Moral Panic Ideology

Moral panics promise an emotional response that guarantees the interests of tabloid and broadsheet readers.
McRobbie and Thornton (1995) argue moral panics have become the way daily events are brought to the

4
 Charlotte Nelson

attention of the public; unmistakeable in the Killer Clown case. Described as a Killers when in reality these
individuals were deviant youths, performing pranks to reduce boredom, a theme that has been in society since
the Mods and Rockers. The medias overreaction is counterproductive; coverage of deviant behaviour leads to
the possibility of additional copycat behaviour. It could be argued that if the American Killer Clowns sightings
were not reported in the UK, then the delinquent behaviour may not have spread to UK cities. Furthermore,
deviance amplification is apparent in this case study, with the focus on antisocial behaviour of youths, a
dominant theme in the media over the past century. However, haircuts and dance styles have often been
associated with this youth deviant behaviour. Therefore, it could be argued that there is an element of
ridiculousness to this case study, an exaggerated reaction to the ongoing deviant youth behaviour in society.

Furthermore, the hyperreal deviant phenomenon of killer clowns, increased vigilante action influenced by
popular culture superheroes. This reaction by the clown hunters (The Sun, 2016), was deviant behaviour, and
furthered the panic in society with increased violence, providing very little solution to the problem. It is
important to examine these cultural and societal factors implicating in the problem, clowns themselves are now
part of popular culture, in books, films and television. Together with popular social media components and
underlying fears of the stranger, it could be argued that this alone could stimulate a panic in society. However,
the Killer Clown problem did seemingly disappear in November 2016, as Cohen predicts in moral panic
analysis; possibly because of the action taken by police forces across the globe on both the Killer Clowns and
vigilantes. Jewkes (2004) notes that moral panic analysis assumes the effects on the audience, however it is
ultimately impossible to predict the effects of the issue or the further concerns that develop as a result in an
ever increasing unpredictable, impersonal and urban world (The Guardian, 2016). Lastly, Jewkes (2004)
identifies that the looseness of the terminology in moral panic analysis is ambiguous, this is evident in the
Killer Clowns case study as the it is unclear if the mass media includes the growth of social media, which was
a key factor of this social issue. Critcher (2003) notes the model lacks cultural change, apparent in this case study
new media systems and modern social movements may obstruct the efforts of conventional media or pressure
groups. Social media can corrupt the initial message, as it travels the meaning can change, distorting the
problem and causing panic.

Conclusion

In contemporary society, most information is received second hand, usually processed by the mass media, and
so subject to their definitions of what constitutes as news. It is clear from studying media reactions to the deviant
behaviour in this case, played on the concerns of the public and stimulated the problem suddenly and
dramatically. The individual deviant behaviour was named as the Killer Clown Craze by the media, and amplified
by scaremongering on social media. Experts and moral entrepreneurs voiced their opinion on the issue and
offered solutions - a classic moral panic. However, there is a greater complexity to analysing moral panics, the
Processual Model provides the starting point to examining social issues, nonetheless cultural and societal
changes must be considered to fully understand and solve the problem. This case study highlights recurrent

5
 Charlotte Nelson

themes of delinquent deviant behaviour and fears of the stranger; therefore, it could be argued the Killer Clown
problem was in fact an amplification of current social anxieties caused by mass social media.

Appendix:

Appendix 1:

Figure 1: The Guardian (2016)

Appendix 2:

Figure 2: The Daily Star (2016)

Appendix 3:

Figure 3: The Guardian (2016)

6
 Charlotte Nelson

Appendix 4:

Figure 4: Evening Standard (2016)

Appendix 5:

Figure 5: The Sun (2016)

Appendix 6:

Figure 6: Screenshot of Facebook 'Killer Clown' Account.

7
 Charlotte Nelson

Appendix 7:

Figure 6: The Express (2016)

Appendix 8:

8
 Charlotte Nelson

Bibliography:

CAVANAGH, A (2007). Taxonomies of Anxiety: Risk, Panics, Paedophilia and the Internet. Electronic Journal of
Sociology.

COHEN, Stanley (1972). Folk Devils and Moral Panics. London, MacGibbon and Kee.

COHEN, Stanley (1980). Footprints in the Sand: A Further Report on Criminology and the Sociology of Deviance
in Britain. In FITZGERALD, M. Crime and Society: Readings in History and Theory. London, Routledge.

DAVIES, Caroline (2016). Creepy Clowns Craze: NSPCC in Warning to be Vigilant at Halloween. [online]. The
Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/30/creepy-clown-craze-nspcc-warning-vigilant-
halloween-children

GAINES LEWIS, Jordan (1991). Why Are Clowns Scary? [online]. Psychology Today.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-babble/201210/why-are-clowns-scary

GOLDHILL, Olivia (2016). Why Are We So Scared of Clowns? [online]. Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/why-are-we-so-scared-of-clowns/

JEWKES, Yvonne (2004). Media and Crime. California, Sage.

KIRBY, Dean (2016). Who are the Killer Clowns and Why is it Happening Here? [online].
https://inews.co.uk/explainers/killer-clowns-happening/

KITCHING, Chris and AUTHI, Jasbir (2016). Criminologists Reveals Bizarre Theory Behind Killer Clown Craze
Thats Terrorising Britain. [online]. The Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/criminologist-reveals-
bizarre-theory-killer-9020429

LUCE, Ann (2013). Moral Panics: Reconsidering Journalisms Responsibilities.

MCROBBIE, Angela and THORTON, Sarah L (1995). Rethinking Moral Panic for Multi-mediated Social Worlds.
The British Journal of Sociology

PATIENT, Douglas (2016). Horror as Knife-wielding Clown Craze Sweeps UK Terrifying Schoolkids. [online]. The
Daily Star. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/551799/Creepy-killer-clowns-sweep-the-UK-
Liverpool-Manchester-Eastbourne

PHIPPS, Sean (2016). Coulrophobia: Why the Killer Clown Panic Isn't Funny. [online].
http://nooga.com/174088/coulrophobia-why-the-killer-clown-panic-isnt-funny/

SVENDSEN, Lars (2008). A Philosophy of Fear. Reaktion Books.

9
 Charlotte Nelson

THE GUARDIAN (2016). Knife Wielding Killer Clown pursues Durham Schoolchildren. [online].
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/07/knife-wielding-killer-clown-pursues-durham-
schoolchildren

VONOW, Brittany (2016). Killer Clown Alert. [online]. The Sun.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2232083/primary-school-placed-lockdown-after-killer-clown-armed-massive-
knife-spotted/

WATFORD NEWS (2016). A Sinister Killer Clowns Social Media Group is Threatening to Terrify Children by
Turning up to Schools in Watford. [online]. http://watfordlondon.uk/Clowns-are-Coming-to-Watford.html

10