Complex sentence: In certain ancient cultures, clowning is also considered an apotropaic rite of pasage, a test and means of deflecting ridicule, insults, jest, and back-talk hurled at them, which they must endure through their use of hilarious antics.
Split into simpler sentences: In certain ancient cultures, clowning is also considered an apotropaic initiation ritual. A test and means of deflecting ridicule, insults, jest, and back-talk hurled at them, which they must endure through their use of hilarious antics.