Dark Carnival (ICP)

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The Dark Carnival is the subject of a mythology presented on a series of albums by the horrorcore rap group Insane Clown Posse, known as the 6 Joker's Cards albums. The Dark Carnival is described as an omnipotent and omniprescient force that employs the ICP to do its bidding. Each album reveals more of what happens to you when you die, and how your sins impact your voyage to Shangri-La (Heaven) or Hell's Pit. The Shangri-La portion of The Wraith double album speaks of the advantages of being a good person and going to Heaven. On Hell's Pit, ICP speaks of what happens when you go to Hell to try to get those who sin to change their ways.

The Dark Carnival saga is akin to a Juggalo religion, although it is not organized. The Joker's Cards map out the basic faith, which attempts to discourage violence and negativity in favor of love and community. (Each "card" corresponds to one album, except for the final card, "The Wraith", which corresponds to two albums, The Wraith: Shangri-La and The Wraith: Hell's Pit.) Below is an outline of the beliefs, which are meant to draw parallels with reality instead of being taken literally.

The Carnival of Carnage is the physical extension of the Dark Carnival. The Carnival of Carnage is what the name would suggest, a travelling mass of social rejects and twisted, angry souls brought to the community that chose to ignore them, wreaking havoc on this community, rather than the ghetto they were trapped in.

The Ringmaster is, as his name suggests, the ringleader of the Dark Carnival. He gains his power from sin and hatred; he is made from each individuals sin and hatred. As such, his strength is different for each soul.

The Riddlebox is a small jack-in-the-box, adorned with only a metal crank and a question mark painted on the front. Your task is simple: you must turn the crank. If your soul is righteous enough, a Heavenly light comes from the Riddlebox and you may proceed. However, if your soul is too tarnished, the floor drops out from below you and Satan claims you for all Eternity.

The Great Milenko is a "necromaster", much like The Ringmaster, he is made from instead your greed. He clouds your mind with evil desires of greed and hate in a last-ditch effort to turn you from the path of righteousness. If you give in, you will be cast down into the Pit.

The Amazing Jeckel Brothers are twins, born of flame, who juggle your fate. They dance around, tossing flaming, bloody balls which represent a person's various sins. Jack Jeckel is the Wicked, trying to make Jake (the Just) fumble and thus drop a ball. A differing number of balls are added to the fray for each type of sin. If there are too many sins, Jake will fumble and your soul is doomed to Hell. But if he succeeds, your path to Shangri-La is opened.

The Wraith is the final arbiter of justice, though he is not inherently good or evil. He takes you to where your soul belongs, whether it be Shangri-La or Hell's Pit.

In Shangri-La, you reap the rewards of a righteous life with whatever infinite delights your personal Heaven holds. In Hell's Pit, you are relentlessly tortured (both physically and mentally) until you realize and truly repent the error of your ways. There is also a mysterious place known as "Echoside", which supposedly is even worse than Hell.

On Thy Unveiling (the final track of the Shangri-La album), ICP revealed that The Dark Carnival is none other than God. Many Juggalos hated this idea, believing it completely incongruous with what had come before. This is not the case, as it was hinted throughout the previous albums (especially on Great Milenko and Jeckel Brothers). The idea that God's agents on Earth are a pair of serial killers also came under fire; however, most everyone they kill deserves it in some way (and the few times they do kill innocent people, they themselves go to hell). In other words, the ends justify the means.

Satan is called The Witch on the Hell's Pit album. The Witch tempts mankind away from the path of righteousness. If you take advantage of others for your own benefit (whether financially, sexually or through violence), The Witch has been successful. Interestingly, given the presence of Milenko and Jack Jeckel, it is implied that even The Witch is another agent of the Carnival.

While The Dark Carnival is a metaphor for God, it is not a specific allegory to Christianity or any other monotheistic religion. It may share elements with the dualistic cosmology of the Judaic religions, but Violent J himself has said that he does not believe the same things as the Holy Bible in regards to sin. Judging from the Cards and public statements, the ICP and the Juggalos themselves consider things like rapacious greed, bigotry, and hate in general to be Hell-worthy sins.