One of my professors once gave me some very good advice: "You can break one rule per paper, but it has to be for a very good reason, and explain why." She meant it was ok to deviate from the assignment as written as long as we could justify its relevance to the coursework, not that we should run off and start cheating or ignore the assignment.
I always thought that was a good idea... I think it's important to know the rules in any area and understand why they're in place, but if you can learn more by following your own path, you'll generally turn in a better assignment. I imagine it's similar with clowning; you should learn the rules and understand why they were set down to begin with, then you'll know what you're doing when you start improvising and doing your own thing.
Maybe you'll find that what worked when the rules were written doesn't work any more and you'll figure out a way to innovate, or maybe you'll fall flat on your face and realize that the rule was time-tested wisdom of generations of clowns.
Anyway Jodakrs, I'm interested to know what "rules" you take issue with in particular; I'll see if I can find that book in the library, I'm curious now.
