Derren Brown - Faith Healers

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Derren Brown - Faith Healers

Postby russpie » Jan 20th, '11, 16:12



Just had word about this;

..."A brand new 90 minute special from the incomparable psychological illusionist Derren Brown in which the star turns his attention to the controversial world of faith-healing.

He will lay bare the tricks and techniques employed by the American Bible belts’, self-proclaimed, faith-healers who boast the ability to perform wonders.

In one of the most audacious stunts he has ever attempted, Derren finds a member of the public who he will train to be a faith healer, before going out to the American bible belt and seeing if he can manage to put on a genuine faith healing show and get away with it."

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Postby daleshrimpton » Jan 20th, '11, 17:00

sounds great. you can also learn all the "tricks" if you watch the Steve Martin Movie Leap of Faith.

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
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Postby Mandrake » Jan 20th, '11, 17:11

Did you all hear that noise? It's the sound of a huge can of worms being opened..... :wink:

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Postby DaveM » Jan 20th, '11, 17:21

Steve Martin would have made a fun magician.

This project sounds a bit too much like Messiah. I was hoping for some new subject matter. I'm sure it'll be riveting none the less.

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Postby Mr_Grue » Jan 20th, '11, 17:37

It will be riveting and change nothing. :roll:

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If the spectator doesn't engage in the effect,
then the only thing left is the method.


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Postby russpie » Jan 20th, '11, 17:54

I actually quite liked Messiah. Better than his latest stuff. I liked the fact he's more unheard of in the States & can approach subjects without prior knowledge of who he his.

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Postby DaveM » Jan 20th, '11, 18:00

Mr_Grue wrote:It will be riveting and change nothing. :roll:


Are you sure about that?

I bet there are viewers who changed their opinions based on his "Investigates" series. It wouldn't be world changing, granted, but if just a few people questioned their beliefs for once in their lives, that's a positive thing.

Notice I didn't say "changed their beliefs" there. I just like for people to truthfully weigh up the evidence for and against, rather than following blindly. If they are still religious afterwards, then that's fine with me.

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Postby daleshrimpton » Jan 20th, '11, 18:12

DaveM wrote:Steve Martin would have made a fun magician.

This project sounds a bit too much like Messiah. I was hoping for some new subject matter. I'm sure it'll be riveting none the less.


Steve Martin IS a funny magician. It was how he first started in showbiz, with a magic set, then he got a job in a magic shop in Disneyland, where he met some of the most influencial names in comedy magic at the time. He then created a night club magic act,elements of which were in his stand up set till the day he retired from Stand up...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtbWMDRxLLY&feature=fvw

and then there s this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJTKgncSRsg

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
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Re: Derren Brown - Faith Healers

Postby bmat » Jan 20th, '11, 18:31

russpie wrote:Just had word about this;

..."A brand new 90 minute special from the incomparable psychological illusionist Derren Brown in which the star turns his attention to the controversial world of faith-healing.

He will lay bare the tricks and techniques employed by the American Bible belts’, self-proclaimed, faith-healers who boast the ability to perform wonders.

In one of the most audacious stunts he has ever attempted, Derren finds a member of the public who he will train to be a faith healer, before going out to the American bible belt and seeing if he can manage to put on a genuine faith healing show and get away with it."


Perhaps it is just me, but I'm not sure why this would be considered an audacious stunt? It would be incredibly easy to pull off. James Randi has repeatedly uncovered and exposed faith healers for years now, for longer then most of us have been alive. Yet the snake oil salesmen do very well. While most faith-healers have gone to India and other countries where laws are not so 'strict' there are still plenty around. In these hard economic times, in these times of great transition in the States people are just right for the picking, they are looking for answers.

This makes about as much sense as when David Blaine went to Haiti to perform magic. Most already believe, really it was no big feat, in fact if he went to the right areas of Haiti, (which he did) most people believe they have seen bigger miracles than Blaine could possibly perform.

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Postby DaveM » Jan 20th, '11, 18:33

daleshrimpton wrote:Steve Martin IS a funny magician.


Wow! I had no idea! I'm gonna watch those now. :)

Cheers for that!

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Re: Derren Brown - Faith Healers

Postby Erwin » Jan 20th, '11, 18:41

bmat wrote:Perhaps it is just me, but I'm not sure why this would be considered an audacious stunt?


Come on now, we're no strangers to hype, are we?

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Postby sleightlycrazy » Jan 20th, '11, 18:42

DaveM wrote:
daleshrimpton wrote:Steve Martin IS a funny magician.


Wow! I had no idea! I'm gonna watch those now. :)

Cheers for that!


If you want to read about it, check out his memoir Born Standing Up. It's one of the best self-memoirs I've read.

Currently Reading "House of Mystery" (Abbott, Teller), Tarbell, Everything I can on busking
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Postby Mr_Grue » Jan 20th, '11, 19:42

DaveM wrote:Are you sure about that?


I hope I'm wrong. It's just that the Randi psychic healing anecdote prays on my mind.

Believers will, in the main, only question their beliefs long enough to further cement them, like a spiritualist who knows that Acorah is faking it, and as a result is more self-assured when encountering mediums she believes are not.

Last edited by Mr_Grue on Jan 21st, '11, 08:01, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby jim ferguson » Jan 20th, '11, 19:56

Mr_Grue wrote:It will be riveting and change nothing. :roll:
    I agree. The majority of believers of these sorts of things wont listen to a word that goes against their belief. If anyone doubts this statement check out the case of Peter Popoff.
jim

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Postby Nic Castle » Jan 20th, '11, 21:33

Will it make people change their belief?
Has it been done before?
Is it being hyped up?
Will it make a difference?
Will he decieve magicians?

It always amazes me how magicians can be their own worsed enemy. A magic program is to appear on tv and we all start looking at the negative side, or even look at if it will change the views of others. Surely we should look at magic programs for what they are "entertainment". Be pleased that the art we love is getting shown to the general public.

"Is your glass half full or half empty?"

Why does Derren Brown make his programmes. I am sure it is mainly to entertain and make money.

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