Early last year, rising pop sensation Chappell Roan made her NPR Tiny Desk debut. She wore a poofy, prom-inspired dress, and tiara, but it was her makeup that was most memorable—blanched white foundation and bright blue eyes, sharply redrawn eyebrows—all framed by a halo of fiery red hair. The resemblance to another pop culture icon was unmistakable: Ronald McDonald.

Later that spring, Dazed ran an article on the rise of clown cosplay. It came six months after...