American Horror Story
Ryan Murphy ’s long - running anthology horror series , American Horror Story , has escort its ups and downs , particularly withCult , the 7th season that tried to take on politics , yet included killer clowns as - arguably - its firm storyline .
One of themore polarizing and dissentious seasons of the serial publication , Murphy ’s decision to tackle societal side effect afterthe US Presidential electionin 2016 was a bold selection . Given the nature of an anthology , Murphy has never been afraid to take risks with his message , as even a badly - have season can be washed out with a Modern one . Some have criticized thatCultwas too on the nozzle given the political mood that come after the election of President Donald Trump , who was often referenced in the season along with his opponent , Hillary Clinton , and treat as a setting eccentric . Murphy ’s aim for the time of year was to show how a civilisation of fear , which is a sociological full term popularise by Barry Glassner , can cause multitude to make place their living behind multitude and make determination they usually would n’t if they feel they - or their way of animation - is being attacked by some insidious , outside force .
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Along with bringing backFreak Show ’s killer goof , Twisty , as a comic record book quality , buffoon were also featured heavily inCultas an integral part of the show . However , the deflexion of nidus from their antic to a focus on naturalism - specifically draw from real fears that surfaced from US residents after the election - was a disservice to fan who wanted to lose themselves in fictional scares , and would have been better without the societal commentary .
American Horror Story Cult: Why The Clowns Were The Best Part
Kai Anderson ( Evan Peters ) was the main adversary of the season . He was a Trump supporter who decided to fly the coop for political office , and terminate up as the Divine Leader of a homicidal fad known as Fear Is Truth ( FIT ) . Kai ’s cult was formed after his healer encouraged him to find a outstanding design for himself , his anger , and his ideas . Evan Peters ended up playing several notorious religious cult member throughout the season to reflect how Kai ’s stance and leading dissent or bore similarities to the great unwashed like Charles Manson and Jim Jones . The FIT members get into clown around costumes with various intimate and phobia - based pattern structure , playing off fears beyond coulrophobia that included trypophobia ( awe of small , closely - packed kettle of fish ) and other erotophobias such as phallophobia .
Coulrophobia ( the fear of clown ) is comparatively common in society , popularized by villains such asPennywise the Dancing Clownin Stephen King ’s definitive novel , IT . John Wayne Gacy , a serial sea wolf , used to trim like a clown to ensnare his victims . More latterly , indie horror bang , Terrifier , createdArt the Clownas its vicious , mimer - like killer . On their own , the member of the FIT religious cult would have been terrorise , but as they were lumped into the enceinte schedule of the season - the sensationalization of political violence and revere mongering - it was n’t as effective . Kai ’s furor members play into the most terrifying of family invasion tropes , as well as the type of mob mentality laden gang violence that has been portrayed before with the Droogs in Stanley Kubrick’sA Clockwork Orange .
The premise of clowns also playing into the fears of Ally Mayfair - Richards ( Sarah Paulson ) , who was crippled by her various phobias , was also interesting because it pitted two doer who are arguably some of Murphy ’s fine against each other in a big way . However , Cult ’s release come at a fourth dimension where many longed to lose themselves to fabricated furiousness rather of being overcharge by very substantial and unquestionable flavour event , such as the choice to include a hatful shooting , whichunderwent significant editsafter the Las Vegas shooting in 2017 . If these Orcinus orca clowns had been involved as messengers in a fictional election , or if the season had orbit around Kai ’s cult , specifically , it would made a much stiff season ofAmerican Horror Story .
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