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A student presentation that examines the rekationship between magic, performance and ventriloquism; from turn of the century to contemporary standing in popular culture.
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PERFORMANCE & MAGIC
Drew Hagen- Art 402
MAGIC AND PERFORMANCE IN POPULAR CULTURE
VENTRILIQUISM
Definition of VENTRILOQUISM (Webster’s Dictionary)
1: the production of the voice in such a way that the sound seems
to come from a source other than the vocal organs of the speaker
2: the expression of one's views and attitudes through another;
especially : such expression by a writer through a fictional
character or literary persona
Or in other words…Performance
HISTORY
Ventriloquism first noted in a historical context in ancient
Greece, and thought to be a religious, mystical practice (they
thought it was the voice of the undead speaking through the
mystic)
Seen as a kind of witchcraft during the middle ages
Now seen as a kind of comedy or vaudeville act with creepy
undertones…
CELEBRITIES,VENTRILOQUISM & THE ART OF THE PUPPET
Charlie ChaplinWith puppet
In the early 20th century, ventriloquism and
magicians became quite fashionable, especially with
the Hollywood crowd
Interestingly about the same time that American
and European interest in mysticism and séances also
became very trendy.
Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy Paul Winchell and …??
CINEMA & THE CREEPY FACTOR
With Movies, the ventriloquist theme was always
used to play on audience fears (and still is a
reoccurring theme)
TV shows like the Twilight Zone, and films like the
British horror film Dead of Night and many more
kept this performance art in the public
consciousness through fear.
Images from the Twilight Zone TV series
Dead of Night (1945)
Magic (1978)
CHANGING FACE OF THE ART??
Thanks to more kid friendly entertainers like Jim
Henson, the Muppets, and many other children’s
shows, the art of ventriloquism and puppetry have at
times combined and flourished under this
relationship.
Jeff Dunham is considered by most to be the most
commercially accepted and financially successful
ventriloquist artist of all time.
JimHenson
Jeff Dunham
THIS PROJECT…
Richard Avedon style of portrait…
Mixed with a littleDiane Arbus absurdity…
= ? (Image 1)
Second image, and evolution of the first, with 1
part Richard Avedon, 1 part Annie Leibovitz =????
(second image)
Third image, a continuing evolution of the first
two, with 1 part Annie Leibovitz and 1 part David
LaChapelle =??? (third image)
Fin
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