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illusioneer Special user NYC 751 Posts |
Brothers and Sisters, I'm in a state of bewilderment. Not because of Blaine's stamina or endurance (which he has plenty of) but about him being under attack constantly. Does this say something about how the new cultures are not accepting magic for what it is? That they would rather spoil it? I don't know what to think, much less put it into words. Is anybody else curious as to what this could mean for the future of magic?
Things are about to change........ LIGHTS!!!
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Jordan Piper Veteran user British Columbia, Canada 309 Posts |
In my opinion, what David Blaine is doing right now is not magic. It is a test of will and endurance. People are not accepting it because they think he is crazy. I also think he is not being particularly entertaining. He is just...existing. The role of a magician is, primarily, to entertain their audience.
I mentioned this on another post but the area surronding the box, from what I've read, is supposed to be highly secure. So I think that David has orchestrated these "attacks" just to make sure he doesn't fade from the spotlight. I'm sure that if David were just on the streets doing his magic he would have a more receptive audience simply because watching and performing magic is acceptable and makes sense. Locking yourself in a plexiglass box for 44 days with only water to live on is not so common place and as such is not as welcomed. |
illusioneer Special user NYC 751 Posts |
Perhaps you're right...never thought he'd plan out such attacks from common onlookers.
Things are about to change........ LIGHTS!!!
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
He's also in London. Think that has anything to do with it?
He had great support from the people in Times Square and Central Park, but London is a whole other ball game. Robert Bloor
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
JAEIII Veteran user 310 Posts |
Blaine is getting nothing but bad publicity from this. Both American television and our friends in London think that this is strange and makes no sense for him to do.
Just last week I saw five things about him mixed over CNN and MSNBC. They were interviewing people in London, and news casters from London. They all say that Blaine is a joke. It's boring to watch a guy sit in a box. There's no reason for it. They are throwing things at him for two reasons that I've heard: because they think he's an idiot or because they are trying to add excitement to a pointless event. Don't shoot the messenger...this is what I've heard. I happen to agree though.
Believe In Magic....I do!
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Kathryn Novak Special user PA 574 Posts |
Yeah, but have you noticed exactly HOW much publicity he's getting for this stunt? Every time someone does something to try to make it harder for him, the cameras show up and he gets himself back into the news. People are thinking about him, even if they're only thinking he's a joke. And that's what keeps his career going.
BTW: Will someone please tell me who came up with that stupid color code to warn Americans of the terror level? I'm supposed to be more cautious when it's one color instead of another? It's... hard to take seriously.
If anyone sees my sanity, please return it to
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da5id Loyal user Dublin, Ireland 268 Posts |
The Office of Homeland Security came up with that terror rating system. It is actually kind of scary because it's a form of propaganda that many Americans are ingesting. The current administration is using fear as their primary tool to gain power, control people and pass laws for their own monetary gain. This rating system is just one of many things they are using to stimulate the fear. It's sick and it's a joke too.
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
All is well and normal. These attackers are the same people, if not spawns, of those who attack ANYTHING to include some of the most sacred things in life (politics, religion, money, sex-drugs-and rock & roll, and yes even magic/sensationalism).
Blaine's stunt gives their lives some meaning or at the very least something to do THAT particular day, and that's good enough for most of them or they wouldn't bother. For example, the mob that scheduled its laser pointer attack via the internet. Just when you thought Blaine was a little off, those strangers unified by such a mission makes you ask what kind of a life is that? I've already stated that I wasn't thrilled by Blaine's latest fasting stunt, however, I recall how crabby I was after skipping breakfast and lunch last Monday. Talking out loud throughout the office about how hungryyy I was. Going on about how I could just smell that pasta and marinara sauce topped off with feta cheese and occasional reference to that horse which was sounding pretty good. Fourty three more days of that torture is not for me. And finally, why the heck is anyone worried about things being thrown at the box? It's a box! He's better protected from these objects than the people below where these objects eventually fall back to. Now if the occasional attacker decides to bring a 50 cal. or M203 guernade launcher, then we can heighten security a notch or two. Again, it's a box! Let them throw their...what...rock a day, chewing gum, or brick. Blah let the attackers have their fun while you keep your eye on Blaine's objective. We know he is. |
Roberto Gee Regular user 106 Posts |
Are you kidding? "Bad" publicity? No such thing. Look at Michael Jackson. David Blaine's name is bigger than ever after his suspended box stunt over the Thames. He made more than most people make in a lifetime, over the TV rights to this stunt.
Whatever his personal reasons for doing it—which I thought he articulated pretty well on Larry King—there's no question that he's far, far better known now than he was before. Brilliant. Magic? Of course not. His book Man of Mystery is selling quite well, thank you. Blaine will never be respected as a magician doing phonied-up (in post-editing) Balducci levitations for his TV specials or rudimentary IT work on the street. But he's gotten more publicity for magic in general in the last two years than Copperfield, Burton, Pendragons, etc., COMBINED. As for Blaine's "attackers," I think it was Liberace who once said, "I'm crying all the way to the bank." |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
No such thing as bad publicity.
Bull. Ask Fatty Arbuckle (it led to his death), Errol Flynn (as in "In like Flynn" regarding his escapades with two supposedly underage females pulling an entrapment scheme on him), Scott Peterson, O.J. Simpson, and yes, Michael Jackson, whose new release is not selling in droves, by any stretch of the imagination. Ask anyone who has been falsely accused of child abuse in the press. There sure as Hades IS such a thing as bad publicity! But Blaine isn't getting any of that! Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
JesterMan Veteran user Maryland, USA 319 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-11-24 08:03, Roberto Gee wrote: I almost agree with this; he has gotten more publicity for HIMSELF than the others mentioned. It's been quite a while since I've heard much mention of him doing anything magical worthy of note. I believe that his actions just encourage layman to think us ALL a bit "off". While that may, in fact, be true, if I am "off" it is in an entirely different way. When Jacko gets caught (allegedly...;-) with his panties down, no one looks askance at all musicians, however, when (one of) the most highly visible magicians has folks questioning his hold on reality, I think we really do get painted with the same brush as him by the mass public. (At least for a time.) When a post went up on the site where I am a Mod about the "attacks" the very first thought I had was, the "attackers" are stooges. I think the only danger anyone was ever in was getting scrambled egg in their hair from the drippings, as noted above. JM
JM
Balloons, Magic, Mayhem & More! www.AArdvarkEntertainers.com www.JesterMan.com "... destined to take the place of the MudShark in your mythology... " FZ |
nimrod Special user 881 Posts |
Saying what Blaine does isn't magic is like saying what Houdini did wasn't magic. The line between escaping and surviving is maybe visible to our eyes, but for the laymen it's all more or less the same—an amazing stunt.
Nimrod, Israel |
ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
Nimrod,
Blaine did not "escape" this box. He did the exact opposite! I don't think the location had too much to do with the reactions. I think it was the stunt he choose more than anything. The stunts that he performed in America at least had some real challenge about them (standing on a pole, extreme cold, etc.) but the Thames stunt really didn't stretch him to an extreme limit. There was also not the same "excitement" due to the lack of physical danger and the length of the stunt.
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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JesterMan Veteran user Maryland, USA 319 Posts |
Quote: Your last sentence was dead on: What he did was a STUNT! Magic and stunts are not necessarily the same, and are not in this case. What he did relates to magic no more than Bono being an activist is related to his singing career. Both are in the public eye, but he is doing two different things.
... but for the laymen it's all more or less the same—an amazing stunt. Now, if he had escaped/vanished from the box, the ice, or the pole, then we'd be seeing magic. I just wish that people would compare these acts to what Evel Knievel or Dave Osbourne do, rather than the fallout falling on our heads, as it were, and getting people to talk about a raised level of concern in "our" community.
JM
Balloons, Magic, Mayhem & More! www.AArdvarkEntertainers.com www.JesterMan.com "... destined to take the place of the MudShark in your mythology... " FZ |
Chris H Inner circle Melbourne, Australia 1364 Posts |
It's disappointing that he seems to have "used" magic to get to where he wanted to be. In all honesty, there's no way that his career would have been successful if, as a guy nobody had ever heard of, he came out and said "I'm gonna live in a box for seven days, then freeze myself, then stand on a pole, and then live in a bigger box for 44 days". People would have thought he was a nutter! It seems he's used the magic to get to where he wanted to be, and now just kinda ditched it for his stunts.
Cheers guys, -- Topher |
Jordan Piper Veteran user British Columbia, Canada 309 Posts |
Maybe some of us are a little confused. David Blaine is not a magician. As he himself has been quoted, he is a performer. Who cares if he does magic on the streets or hangs in a box as a stunt? The bottom line is that he entertains people.
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