Three carved theatrical masks in black, charcoal and pale grey show different degrees of frowning against slate.

Original artwork, not a still

A Book of Burlesques ‧ 1920

H. L. Mencken

Creator — A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The definition imagines a creator as a comedian facing an audience too afraid to laugh. The comparison questions the relationship between authority and its audience rather than describing an actual performance.

Context reviewed

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