Finnish Diving Clowns

We took out 6 year old son to a circus show last weekend.  When you think of the circus, you probably think of circus tents, clowns, animals, acrobats, perhaps even jugglers.  For me during the last 15 years or so, circus has been defined by catching the highly unique shows known as Cirque du Soleil.  This Finnish show known as Jerobeam places a totally different twist on the circus concept.  This show which consisted of about 15 performers, focuses mainly on pool diving stunts.

All the performers in this show had painted clown faces and they were all highly trained diving/jumping experts.   The show started with a fake lifeguard trying to tie some balloons up near the top of the 7.5 meter diving block and another man coming to help with a ladder before they both plunged into the swimming pool, ladder and all.  From there on out it was a full on assault of clowns doing their best dives, falls and jumps from various different heights of the swimming pool's diving blocks and springboards.  Belly flops, butt flops, head first, back first, you name it, and they probably tried it.  Seems it was likely to hurt these clowns doing belly flops from 7.5 meter blocks, but they got right back on their feet like nothing had happened and clearly had practiced these high jumps many times. 

Throughout the hour plus show they featured many different activities including a pirate battle, lighting a man on fire before plunging into the water, a water skier and having 6 or 7 people diving into the pool at the same time.  These guys seemed fearless and at the top of their game.  One act towards the end really stood out as one of those “only in Finland” type of stunts.   One clown was dressed up in a ghost outfit and only had holes cut out for his eyes so he could see.  Essentially he was just wearing a white sheet.  The “ghost” walked through the crowd, and then climbed up to the top of the highest block.  Then he proceeded to remove his ghost sheet, which now revealed that he was fully naked while he quickly placed his hands over his private parts.  Then just as people realized this, he quickly jumped head first into the water while still holding his private parts and he proceeded to swim across the pool naked to the other side.  As he reached the other side and left the pool, he again covered his privates with his hands and walked quickly to the locker room.   This was the naked clown act known as "nakupelle" in Finnish.  Interesting enough, no one in the audience seemed that shocked and even my wife mentioned that they do this same act with each show.  I can only imagine the horror in the United States when the parents realize what is going on with their kids in the audience.  It would probably make the local evening news.   Don’t forget Janet Jackson’s famous Super Bowl nipple slip created a situation where live TV in the States is now delayed around 7 seconds.   It is just the human body people, relax!  Again it outlines the cultural differences between Europe and the prude United States.  If these things are not made into a “big deal” in the US then they are probably not such a big deal.

I thought the entire show was great fun and my son agreed.  After the show completed some of the performers hung around and my son made his way over promptly so he could shake hands with the clowns.  So, what a better way to cap a Saturday evening than seeing Finnish diving clowns working their magic in the swimming pool.  :)

Censorship and nudity in Finland

Did the title of this post grab your attention?  :)  I do find this subject very interesting because Finland is for the most part an "Americanized" Western country, but when it comes to censorship and nudity Finland and United States are very different.  The other day I was driving my children to school around 9am in the morning and we were listening to the radio station as usual, when I was greeted with one F bomb after another from this somewhat popular song that has been in rotation on the popular local radio stations.  The title of this particular one was called "Loca People" by Sak Noel.  However, one profanity laced song wasn't the point I was trying to make. Any song that has profanity and vulgarity will most likely not be censored by the local radio stations.  Also, the DJ's will not be beeped out for saying an occasional swear word. I kind of have mixed feelings on this one.  I am not one who wants to subject my kids to relentless f bombs, but on the other side of the coin, kids are smart and if something is "beeped" out or they are curious about something they will most likely find out about it sooner or later.  Since these Finnish children are exposed too less censorship at an early age, it probably becomes less and less mysterious to them and just a part of life.

Nudity is an entirely different subject where Finland and most likely the rest of Europe is different from the US.  In the United States it seems that violence is more accepted in society than nudity.  This is pretty clear judging by the films we release and the fact that violence is in full force and nudity (even when graceful) is not as accepted or only in certain types of films.  TV programs in Finland are not censored and they even run rated R films without any form of censorship.  These films are also broadcast as early as 7 or 8pm, not just reserved for late night.  I was amazed a few years ago to see a Finnish cell phone commercial where these guys were running around with their  "junk" hanging out. :) Yes, no joke, they were completed exposed in this commercial.  Imagine this in the US where we had Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction (otherwise known as "Boobgate") experience several years ago at the Super Bowl halftime show.  They actually changed the rules on viewing live television (now it is delayed several seconds) because of one breast being exposed.  I think US thinks of itself as a puritanical society, but the irony is that it is extremely violent at the same time.  Nudity is just more accepted in Finland.  This country invented the Sauna and when I talk about Sauna it should be known that it is regarded in Finland as a family experience.  Most families with young children have Sauna day on Saturdays where the entire family uses their Sauna and then just relaxes.  In US there might be some stigma around the Sauna being more of a place for nudity and sex which is far from the truth.

I do have one experience to share that made even me shake my head in disbelief.  It was one of those "It would never happen in US" thoughts.  So, I have been swimming in various indoor swimming halls since I moved to Finland.  They are all very nice and have extensive shower and Sauna facilities.  However, there is one big catch.  :)  The cleaning lady will come into the men's shower room at all times during the day to mop and clean up.  Yes, it could be right smack in the middle of a busy Saturday afternoon and the cleaning lady comes to clean the entire the shower room with 9 or 10 men taking their showers and no one blinks an eye!  I was more surprised that no one cared rather than by the fact that the lady just casually walks in the the room.  This is not a perverted type of thing, the lady is simply minding her own business.  She is not there to gawk, just to do her job and leave.  I was a bit uncomfortable at first, and would quickly run to my towel.  But I guess "When in Rome, do as Roman do" so they say.