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WR Special user Utah 945 Posts |
Magician David Blaine Nears End of Stunt
Thu Oct 16,10:57 AM ET By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer LONDON - David Blaine — shaman to some, charlatan to others, showman above all — is getting ready to leave his box. The American magician is approaching Sunday's end to a 44-day fast-cum-vigil in a dangling plastic case — hungrier, hairier and, he says, wiser, than when he went in. Blaine, 30, who has previously been buried alive and encased in a block of ice, says the feat is both the hardest and "the most beautiful" thing he's done. It has undeniably captured the imagination of Britons. Over the last six weeks, onlookers have reacted with a pungent mix of support and ridicule, while commentators puzzled over whether the stunt offered tasteless spectacle or spiritual insight. Brian Keenan, who was held hostage in Lebanon for 4 1/2 years, wrote in The Guardian newspaper that people were "drawn to this half-naked man hoisted in the heavens. We eat our hamburgers and ice cream in part wonder, part homage, part adoration." The same paper's theater critic, Michael Billington, judged that "this strange public confinement ... acquires something of the unresolved ambiguity of art." But in The Independent, columnist Terence Blacker condemned the "creepy" Blaine as part of a disturbing trend toward entertainment that "tweaked the public's sadistic impulse." Blaine certainly brought out a streak of malice in some. In the days after his 7 foot by 7 foot by 3 foot plexiglass box was hoisted 40 feet above the River Thames' south bank on Sept. 5, the illusionist endured the sound of drums and foghorns, the smell of sizzling burgers and the sight of hecklers' bare breasts and buttocks. One man was arrested for firing paint-filled balloons at Blaine's box. Another was fined for trying to damage the water supply to the box, which allegedly contains only a quilt, a pillow, a journal, a change of clothes and a photo of the magician's mother. But as time went by, ridicule turned to grudging respect. By the final week, taunts had largely been replaced by encouraging shouts and handwritten signs stuck along the fence around "Camp David," Blaine's riverside enclosure. Hundreds of people — teenagers, tourists, families with young children — gathered daily beneath the box near Tower Bridge. A lethargic Blaine, sporting a new bushy beard and matted hair, rewarded them with weak waves and beatific smiles. Thousands are expected to show up on Sunday to watch Blaine's exit, which will be broadcast on television and streamed to paying subscribers on the Internet. Blaine's Web site says he may have to spend a month in hospital recovering from the ordeal. By Day 38, the site said, the magician was "occasionally incoherent and has been exhibiting signs of delusion," smelled strongly of sulfur and was longing to take a bath. A former street magician, Blaine now specializes in feats of endurance. Before entering the box, he said he hoped the test would help him find his "truths." Many onlookers seem to agree there's something spiritual about the event. Many of the signs dotted around the site had a metaphysical cast. "The butterfly will emerge from its cocoon," said one. "Physically thin — spiritually fat," declared another. Paranormalist Uri Geller, a friend and mentor to Blaine, said the American is "a shaman. He has the quality of Rasputin, of Mesmer. "He believes it is important to suffer," added Geller. "He thinks that is a very real and true human emotion." Retired carpenter Terry Hutt said he spent every day at the site after watching Blaine enter the box on a live television special. "You hear the bad bits, but there's more good bits," said Hutt, 68, clad in Union Jack shorts, T-shirt and hat. "People become friends, they share their sandwiches. And we get lots of entertainment. We had Michael Jackson (news)'s double the other day. "This morning a woman brought a dead pigeon in a box. I think she hoped he could bring it back to life."
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Reis O'Brien Inner circle Seattle, WA 2467 Posts |
Well, he's out. And he looks like hell. No tricks up his sleeve. No fancy pyrotechnics. He just got up and staggered out. Somebody give that man a Twinkie!
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eggshell Regular user Chorley, England 146 Posts |
Great timing for this one. British Press was full of the Prime MInister being hospitalised with a heart problem and Diana Princess of Wales' letter predicting her death by a car accident. Couldn't have picked a worse time to come out.
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Sven Rygh Inner circle Oslo, Norway. 1945 Posts |
Yeah, yeah...
He's out of his box,....and so what?? He was on the news here today, looking like hell, and almost unable to talk. Really, what's the big point??? He has ruined his helth for the coming 6 mnths and made a bunch of tomatoe throwing Hooligans happy?? I have seen far better PR stunts than this. If you ask me, this reminds more of a nickle freak show than entertainment or--what it apparently is ment to be, positive loaded PR Sven
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"Keep it as simple as possible, - but no simpler" http://www.svenrygh.no/sven-rygh/presse/nrk-forst-og-sist/ http://www.svenrygh.no/video.html |
thehawk Inner circle 2275 Posts |
Hopefully he goes back to street magic and forgets about all his boring stunts. Like they say you have to go outside the box , well now he's out .
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Jordan Piper Veteran user British Columbia, Canada 309 Posts |
Well I, for one, will congradulate David on making it the entire 44 days. People said he couldn't do it and the stunt was stupid. But he did it, not giving a *** what anyone else thought. I'm sure all the naysayers just drove him a little harder. Bravo David.
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ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
As for it not being good publicity...well it may not haev done him too many favours in England (although he did build up quite a fan base from what I understand), but he has once agian hit world headlines, and just look at all the time we have spent talking about him. IMHO - stupid stunt, great publicity!
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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marko Inner circle 2109 Posts |
I give him major credit for hanging in there through the whole ordeal. There was a point when he could've just said "The **** with it" and ended the stunt in an attempt to salvage his reputation. But that would have done more harm than good for him in the long run. I'm glad he accomplished what he set out to do. And now hopefully he'll think out these things a little better before committing to them. Or perhaps he could just stop doing them altogether. I wouldn't mind.
Thought: Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.
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dpe666 Inner circle 2895 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-20 19:22, thekernel wrote: It was. |
inidyls Veteran user NYC 315 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-20 19:22, thekernel wrote: 1. no one said he couldn't do it they just said it was stupid. 2.And for the naysayers just drove him a little harder gimmie a BREAK it was the MONEY 3.I know three people that fast for three weeks at a time then one week eating (vegetarian) so it's not as hard as it looks for some people. Even Robin Quivers on the Howard Stern show does this. 4. |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Well, I thought it was kinda disturbingly "enigmatic"...
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Dr. TORA Inner circle TURKEY 1439 Posts |
Yes it was something very few people can dare...But...But...What is the relation of it with magic, I am not able to find out ...
Magically Yours,
OZLEN TUNCER /Dr.TORA Have you visited my new Website in English, yet? www.magictora.com or www.torasmagic.com |
Scott Grimm Regular user Chicago 141 Posts |
Wave a few million in front of me and you will have to pay me a million more just to get me out of that box.
Faith is at the heart of all magic.
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Decker Loyal user Hades 211 Posts |
I'm glad its over!
"He had alot to say... He had alot of nothing to say..." --MJK
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joseph Eternal Order Please ignore my 17407 Posts |
Probably the most frequently asked question, as in the first space capsules, "Where is the toilet and shower?" Secondly, how many lay people believe, since he is a magician, that this was somehow staged, even if it was really accomplished?
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." (Einstein)...
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