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