by Demitri » Oct 3rd, '05, 08:39
I caught this effect as well, but I cannot and will not say that this completely debunks Criss Angel as an illusionist and magician, and frankly, I'm surprised by the number of people who have allowed such a comment to come through.
Yes - he used stooges - however - in his defense - at NO TIME did he say that the people in the hall were going to see something amazing. He is clearly performing for the television audience.
The notion that you can debunk an illusionist because paid stooges were used is just laughable. Many effects have used stooges, and I'm sure even some of the magic heroes on here have done so. Stooges are a part of the game, and a very effective one at that.
Furthermore - to claim that ALL of Angel's effects and performances can be debunked in this manner is just a flat-out lie. I can claim that EVERY SINGLE David Blaine effect uses a stooge. I could say that Michael Ammar uses a fake audience and stops recording so he can play with the cards and set them up to do the reveal. Would I be wrong? Of course. Put it in context. For example:
David Blaine didn't ACTUALLY read that guys' mind - he didn't turn over the card that man thought of. He used the ID. He's a fraud! He didn't actually read his mind, he used a gimmick deck!
Isn't that a bit of a stretch to call him a fraud?
I won't begin to comment on how Sniper has GLARINGLY overlooked the fact that ALL magic and illusion can be completely debunked. For the simple reason that there IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC. But that's not the point. Criss Angel isn't selling himself as the real deal. David Blaine didn't, Houdini, Ammar - etc. Everyone older than 7 KNOWS it's a trick - but it's how they let themselves FORGET that and enjoy what they're watching. None of us think we're magical - we're magicians. BIG difference.
You caught him on an effect. Bravo and good eye. That's fine if exposing the truth is what you're after. Bear two things in mind, though.
1 - You didn't debunk him - you just outed a secret. I can almost guarantee 99% of his audience knows it's fake - they just don't know how he faked it. You saw the evidence, but I could hardly say you're the first to expose him.
2 Even in doing so, it certainly doesn't allow you to come here and label him as a fraud. WE'RE ALL FRAUDS at the end of the day, if you want to get technical. But that's not the point. Did he try to sell you something? Did he put a label on the beginning saying "Everything you're going to see is real"? Did he say that he had true magical powers? No. He's not selling snake oil - he's performing for a crowd. He's not telling you he can talk to your dead cat if you call his 900 number. It's not fraud - it's entertainment.
I uphold this effect was never meant to sell as an impromptu illusion for the people in the hall. Remember, Sniper - the "crowd" he was going to show something to was his family. Now, I'm just guessing here, but I think they know it's not actually real.
If you don't like the guy, that's cool. I'm not his biggest fan, either. However, to make such a claim is naive and I think rather foolish. You see one thing and suddenly ALL of his stuff uses stooges? That anyone let this slide is amazing to me. This is nothing more than a total and complete lie. I challenge you and anyone who has responded in kind, to prove to me that every single effect Criss Angel performs uses a paid stooge and/or audience. The fact that you think it does, Sniper - and the fact that you felt the need to pore over every detail to debunk him, only shows me that you completely missed the point of the effect altogether.
Think about it - you are claiming that he tried to deceive us. Yeah - him and everyone else in magic.....