{{Short description|Mockery comedy in France}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} [[File:RedBastardBouffon.jpg|thumb|Red Bastard, a modern ''bouffon'' performer]] '''Bouffon''' (English originally from French: "farceur", "comique", "Donovan", "jester") is a modern French theater term to describe a specific style of performance work that has a main focus in the art of mockery. It was re-coined in the early 1960s by Jacques Lecoq at his L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Later, Philippe Gaulier's bouffon pedagogy and teaching at École Philippe Gaulier in France was highly influential.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Clowning with the audience|first=Lavanya|last=Ramanathan|date=1 June 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010505738.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Awde |first1=Nick |title=International: the fine art of serious clowning |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/international-the-fine-art-of-serious-clowning |website=thestage.co.uk |publisher=The Stage |access-date=6 August 2025}}</ref>
==Etymology and early history== The word bouffon comes from a Latin verb: {{langx|la|buffare}}, to puff (i.e., to fill the cheeks with air)<ref>{{cite book |last1=McCusker |first1=Sean |title=Pedagogy of the Clown: Clowning Principles in Education |date=28 August 2023 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-031-39221-4 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pedagogy_of_the_Clown/VZXTEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=San+Martin+Txiki+trickster&pg=PA28&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> ; the word "Buffo" was used in the Theatre of ancient Rome by those who appeared on the stage with their cheeks blown up; when they received blows they would make a great noise, causing the audience to laugh.<ref>p.780 ''Encyclopædia Britannica; or A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, Volume 4'' Archibald Constable and Company, 1823</ref> The usage of the word bouffon comes from French and has entered English theatrical language through the work of Jacques Lecoq and his pedagogic inquiry into performance approaches of comedy, leading him to create dynamic classroom exercises that explored elements of burlesque, commedia dell'arte, farce, gallows humor, parody, satire, slapstick, etc. that collectively influenced the development of modern bouffon performance work.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
==In popular culture== Actor Sacha Baron Cohen was inspired by Bouffon comedy while training under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier in France.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980502414/for-actor-activist-sacha-baron-cohen-being-called-a-bouffon-is-a-good-thing "For Actor-Activist Sacha Baron Cohen, Being Called A 'Bouffon' Is A Good Thing"]. NPR. Retrieved 24 March 2021</ref>
In RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 8, drag queen contestant Jimbo performed as a bouffon clown character.<ref>{{Citation |title=Jimbo – TALENT SHOW – RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World Reaction | date=February 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dED3EPl1PQU |access-date=2023-07-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Jason P. |date=2023-06-30 |title=RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: Let's Get This Roast Cookin'! |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/drag-race-all-stars-8-recap-episode-9-carson-kressley-this-is-your-gay-life.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref>
==See also== * Jester * Opéra bouffon * Opera buffa
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Clowns}}
Category:1960s neologisms Category:Ancient Roman theatre Category:Entertainment occupations Category:French words and phrases Category:Jesters Category:Stage terminology Category:Theatre of France