Endurance Artist (and alleged illusionist) David Blaine is at it again. Yesterday, he began his 60 hour "Dive of Death", which has him hanging upside down over Central Park's Wollman Rink in New York City. The curious or just plain "easily entertained" can go and see him until Wednesday evening at which point he will lowered, examined by doctors and sexually gratified by the media.
You know what would impress me? Blaine performing an actual magic trick. Call me jaded if you must but I grew up watching magicians on TV who made the impossible possible and kept us guessing decades later. David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear and walked through the Great Wall of China. David Blaine stood on a very tall pole. You be the judge. Jury and executioner optional.
To be fair, I'll concede that Blaine is the master of endurance. His body is well trained to perform these dangerous publicity stunts. But in my mind, that makes him barely one step above the guys on
Jackass. More accurately, he's the sophisticate's Johnny Knoxville - all the imminent danger with none of the crotch punching. Maybe if Blaine did some card tricks for the spectators while dangling heedlessly, I'd change my tune. Heck, I'd even settle for the ole "Detachable Thumb" (see right).
For those who are concerned, Blaine is going without sleep and nourishment, save for minimal water, for this stunt. In addition, he runs the risk of blindness. Not as sexy as the threat of impalement or asphyxiation, but whatever...
4 comments:
That thumb trick is amazing!
Hanging upside down for a considerable amount of time ... not so much.
Agreed.. The water tank thing was silly also.
But make no mistake Blaine is a serious magician. You should watch his close in parlor magic. He really is a master. His card work is best in class.
There are some old DVD's around of his work when he was young. He did some really amazing stuff in a prison and the reaction of the inmates reflected the quality of his card illusions.
I think that Blain realized that there is just no market for that stuff anymore (unless you go to the monthly show at the Waldorf Astoria, but that's only for what, 30 people?) and moved on to the big stage endurance stuff.
Having grown up with Tanner's Magic shop in my backyard (are they still around?) I wish it were not so, but this is what an illusionist has to do to get a gig.
Doug
www.dougist.com
Yet another injection of stupidity into our humble lives.
http://starcasm.net/archives/86
Omar - It is amazing, I wish I could do the thumbtrick.
Dougist - I agree. But I think he's kind of simplified the meaning of illusions by doing publicity stunts instead of honest to goodness magic. There's a market for it - ask Criss Angel.
Starcasm - Great site. I loved your takes on Paris and Blaine.
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