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August 19, 2003
Get ready for David Blaine's
The plan: suspending himself -- for 44 days -- in a 7' x 7' x 3' plexiglass box above the Thames. He's bringing along a notebook, feeding tube, diapers, and Harmony Korine.
If his previous stunts are any indication, he will be very thin and stinky by the end of it.
Now, you might ask yourself, why do such a thing? He says it's because he wants to push his body past its limits. If you believe his book, he seems to have quasi-mystical experiences towards the end of his travails, but he also seems intent on combining these experiences with the desire to make a spectacle of himself. He disavows this notion, but it's inescapable. If all you wanted was a mystical experience, you could suspend yourself in your living room for 44 days, like Dabney Coleman in 9 to 5. Is it possible that Blaine sees himself as conveying a message to everyone who watches him? "I think a lot of people are unable to accept that they're able to do what they can do," he says. Maybe he's trying to confront us with this fact. Sort of like Jesus who, don't forget, also spent a certain amount of time in isolation, ultimately for our benefit. David suffers so we don't have to.
As it closes, the article perfectly captures DB's mix of hucksterism and grandiose propheteering:
"I believe it is completely possible to exist peacefully with absolutely nothing, as it was in the beginning and as it will be in the end," he said. "It will be a public isolation that I will have to endure by adapting and surviving as an animal would. On instinct." And of course on television.A doctor quoted in the article says 44 days is about as long as you can live on just water. He says you can live just about forever on Gatorade, though.
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posted by adm at 4:30 AM | #
Comments
Dude how the heck do you dp all those things. Like you got this guy to win the lottery and when you made that kids girl friend pop up on you as a tatto. You are weird but cool. I hope someday maybe i would like to see you in person doing a trick.
Posted by: jon rivera at April 25, 2005 7:40 PM
I am spellbound by this guy, never having seen him perform live but watching 'Street Magic' on television. Simply amazing - I would love to meet him, he seems very spiritual, very sensual, haunting!
Posted by: Cindy at April 30, 2005 8:49 PM
Dude you are the coolest
Lately I've been watching street magic and you are just so awesome how did you get that string to come out of your stomach and that diamond to come out of your eye!? Oh man you should come to British Columbia and do some magic I'd love to see you perform in person!
Posted by: Liz at May 1, 2005 11:07 PM
I know a little bit about your tricks and your dangerous stunts, but I still couldn believe you survived 44 days of starvation. I would do anything to meet you.It is becaus of you that I started doing magic and I loved it. I also want you to know that you are my idol, and I am thinking about doing one of your stunts and a combination of mine when I am old enough. now I am only 16. hope to see you some day.
Posted by: Nate Ephrem at May 27, 2005 5:21 PM
You are my idol.
Posted by: Nate Ephrem at May 31, 2005 9:56 AM
ummm ive seen you do a lot of your stuff on tv and stuff and youve made yourself quite famous but i dont believe it and as much as i love to watch it i mean come on who pullls out there heart like get serious just for everyones information it is impossible for a human to bite and shed blood to the space in there hand where the thumb is you would pass out before that happened and ummm yeah criss angel rocks keep up the awsome cool magical stuff but i dont want to see anymore organs cheers
Posted by: mark at July 22, 2005 10:03 AM
Criss Angel is better. :P
Posted by: Rock at August 11, 2005 5:43 PM
Criss Angel sucks compared to David. :\
Posted by: Zak at September 19, 2005 9:17 PM
David Blaine
I must admit I do appreciate your skills in the arts of illusion and magic. I'm glad that this next stunt is more something that you're doing for yourself rather than try to impress people with carefully constructed tricks. Although, it will certainly inspire others. I think it is definitely possible and I wish you the best of luck. I would almost say, "hey Dave, I'm going to go on a forty day fast during this time that you are doing yours. But I would be fearful to make that sort of promise, due to my lack will-power. On the other hand, I SHOULD believe in myself and at least try it out. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm with you man.
God Bless you David Blaine.
sincerely
Derek James Hawkins
P.S. I still am completely dumbfounded by your tricks on the TV. I hope that you're not a phony and that they're ALL camera tricks, as i know some are. Those are real people right? Not actors? Welp, good luck to you
PEACE........
Posted by: Derek Hawkins at September 30, 2005 11:41 PM
i wonna know how the hell you do that and where were you going on that cage.
Posted by: jessica at April 8, 2005 7:54 PM