Here in New Mexico, our Pueblo peoples have created both clowns and kachinas to expose the dark and light side of things.. . .
The Far East did the same thing with dragons, mocking faces, and monsters who guard almost every door in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Westerners wonder why they have so many ugly figures right at an entrance, and not more smiley faces. We would prefer a waving Mickey Mouse or a sentimental blonde angel. The aggressive face has something necessary and good to teach you about the difficult and demanding side of things, about naivete, containment, perseverance, and your ability to stare evil down. Don't confuse the negative with the hostile; they are not the same. The negative is contained inside the truly positive; the hostile needs to be hostile and oppositional.
— Richard Rohr, Adam's Return