The Secret Life of Juggalos

bro.  bro.  bro.

let me drop some knowledge on you.

FAYGO.

replace the F with a G.

GAYGO.

but wait…i’m not done.

put the go…in front.

GOGAY.

GO.  GAY.

IS THE PROMOTION OF THE HOMOSEXUAL LIFESTYLE REALLY WHAT THE DARK LOTUS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT?

I don’t want to draw any conclusions at this point, but according to the completely scientific study I have just conducted, (currently undergoing a second peer review), I am willing to say yes at this point.

Though there may be errors in the data, I do feel confident, having studied the majority population of Juggalos across North America.

The proof is there.  You just need to look for it.

Take “HELL’S PIT” for example.  Now, this is clearly a thinly veiled euphemism for the anus.  When one “goes deep into Hell’s Pit” they are clearly discussing engaging in anal sex with another male.  “Chopping up bodies” is yet another euphemism, however it is for oral sex, not anal.

Why, the hatchet itself represents the phallus.  The “Hatchetman”, the iconic representation of the Psychopathic family, is modeled after the image that every Juggalo would like to see themselves as – a mentally deranged homicidal lunatic.

For most, the image is one that is highly relatable.  So powerful that those who deem themselves “down with the Wicked Clowns” will flock to it, not unlike sheep.  They will purchase merchandise emblazoned with it such as hats, jackets, jewelry, etc.  There are even some who will take the next step to get it tattooed upon their bodies as a declaration to the rest of the tribe that they are in fact more dedicated than others.

But what does the image represent?  What does it MEAN?  For Juggalos, it represents giving power to the powerless.  As most Juggalos will see themselves as downtrodden, they will likely find comfort in this notion.

Allow me, for a moment, to dissect the image.

Much like the Holy Trinity, the Hatchetman is composed of not one, but three parts.  The joker hat, the man himself, and the hatchet.  Typically drawn as a one piece image and colored in red, we must infer that each part (hat, man, & hatchet) are all equally important and equally inseparable from each other.

Now, given the proclivity for the Insane Clown Posse’s masterminds to use imagery and allegory to intentionally deceive their audience, (as laid out at the end of the final Joker Card when Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope claimed that they were actually using their music to discuss their Christian faith & belief in God), we must assume that such notions plague the entirety of not just Insane Clown Posse’s music – particularly the Joker Cards – but every facet.

The face paint itself represents deception.  Deception of the audience and deception of the self.  When one places the face paint on, one becomes a caricature.  A “wicked clown” so to speak.  Through this deception, a follower of the Insane Clown Posse is allowed the freedom to emerge within the community and give into their baser desires.

From this we can only declare the entirety of the Insane Clown Posse and all affiliates to be based upon a foundation of falsehood.

But the Hatchetman.

As I have stated previously, the Hatchetman is one of the integral parts of the Insane Clown Posse.  But to determine what he means, we must first break him down.

Upon first glance, you will notice that he is colored red.  As we all know, the Insane Clown Posse are known for populist tactics, making the connection to the viewer that this is representative of blood.  A fair assumption.  One which I will continue to use throughout this dissertation.

Now, from the design standpoint, we are to assume that the Hatchetman is on a rampage (note the running stance he is always seen in) using a hatchet (fig 3.) and covered in blood, (hence the red coloring), however, I would argue this is entirely false.

Now, as I stated earlier – aside from the red coloring – the Hatchetman is composed of three parts: the hat, the man, and the hatchet.

The man is the most easily determined among the three.  He represents that who would call himself a Juggalo.  We must infer that the Hatchetman is in fact a man due to the lack of breasts.  As the Hatchetman is in fact covered in blood, we would have no visual cues as to determining his sex other than this.  As well, the typical female fan of the Insane Clown Posse also suffers from morbid obesity.  As we know already that Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope appeal to the populist nature of their fandom, we must concur that the Hatchetman represents the male of their fanbase only.

The hat is slightly subtler, though no less important, representing the mental instability of the typical Insane Clown Posse fan.  Or, should I say, implied mental instability.  Though Juggalos will often be linked to crimes such as petty theft or public urination, (and including, but not limited to murder and kidnapping), the gross majority of Juggalos would appear to be poorer, middle class kids who have latched onto the group due to their desire to be accepted for being “different”.

This cult mentality is often what drives other subcultures.  The psychology behind it is no different from punk rock, body modification or Apple Fanboyism.  It is simply notable how extensively Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope have used this manipulation of their audience for marketing purposes.

Now, with regards to the hatchet, it represents mutliple things.  One could easily infer it to be nothing more than a murder weapon as was previously stated.  Though, if we were to simply take the hatchet as it was, we would be doing a disservice to the artistry of the Insane Clown Posse marketing department.

So what does it represent?

Power.

As I stated before in an earlier paragraph, the Hatchetman overall represents the Juggalo himself.  Often slighted by the world, the typical Juggalo will often feel powerless.  As a poorly educated individual, we can infer that most Juggalos will hold low-wage positions, often working for fast food establishments or other jobs where they can be trusted to not cause harm to society, such as janitorial.  An industrious Juggalo can perhaps find himself working a higher-paying position within the construction or even trades.  However, most Juggalos will never find themselves with management positions, perhaps in part due to poor hygeine.

As such, the Juggalo will develop a deep loathing for his surroundings.  Unable to deal with his lot in life, he will lack the proper coping skills and resources that the upper-middle class may have access to.  As such, he will be easily swayed and manipulated, easy prey for Psychopathic Records.

He will begin to feel a strange affinity to this band of rogues, having found acceptance where he had none before.   Eventually, he will “pick up the hatchet”, and dedicate himself fully to the group.

But is it harmless power?  I would argue that it is not.

Given the Insane Clown Posse’s patriarchical stance, everything about the group is decidedly with a male slant.  In the Psychopathic Family, women are to be seen as second class citizens.  Their needs are always secondary to those of their partners.  There is slight acceptance, but the division of “JUGGALO” and “JUGGALETTE” still stands.

Given this divisiveness, we can only deduce that the power within the Psychopathic Family is most decidedly male.  And what better to represent the male power than a weapon to be weilded on those who would oppose them?

So, what does the hatchet represent?

A penis.