There once was a witch who had a dark reputation. Her name was Morgana, and her presence struck fear into the hearts of the local villagers. Legends and rumors easily spread about her powers and her twisted desires. Many believed that she could control the elements, summon dark spirits, and cast spells that would bring ruin upon all those who crossed her path. Morgana's reputation grew even darker when tales of her involvement in unspeakable rituals and sacrifices began to circulate. It was said that Morgana had made a pact with the devil himself, trading her soul in exchange for unimaginable power.
The problem is that the magic is out of context. It is the old Fitzke (or was it Nelms) saying that making a sandwich appear is interesting, but if your buddy say's I'd love a hot bacon cheese burger and you made it appear THAT is magic. If we could actually do magic, we wouldn't be doing ACAANs or borrowed ring to coathanger or regurgitating frogs (and no, the fact that someone said you could hold a frog in your hand doesn't make it like the sandwich example.). Eugene Burger has a great example of shamanic magic in his book Magic and Meaning - where magic tricks happen as part of rituals. Even with David Blaine, everyone assumes there is an method. Magic is making them forget there is a method.
If we could actually do magic, we wouldn t be doing ACAANs or borrowed ring to coathanger or regurgitating frogs and no, the fact that someone said you could hold a frog in your hand doesn t make it like the sandwich example. It seems to me that many magicians are trying too hard to entertain, and they come off very awkwardly--their humor is flat, the patter is over the top, the gags are ridiculous.
It was said that Morgana had made a pact with the devil himself, trading her soul in exchange for unimaginable power. This tale of demonic allegiance only served to further fuel the villagers' fears and suspicions. They shunned her and believed that her very presence brought curses and misfortune upon their community.
Put the shotgun down, David Blaine: the real magic is your audience's reactions
D avid Blaine has always looked a bit weary. The illusionist once said that he only feels alive when close to death, which might explain it. Unless he’s having a flutter with oblivion, life’s just a bit… leaden. Judging by the dark circles under his eyes and a monotone more glacial than ever, Blaine’s new show David Blaine: Beyond Magic (Monday, 9pm, Channel 4) depicts a man who may not have felt a thrill in years. What better pep, then, than to shoot a gun into your own mouth and catch the bullet in your teeth?
The bullet trick – “Twelve magicians faked it… and died,” warns the narrator over a lemon barley water Aphex Twin soundscape – is built up as the climax of this one-off. Without giving too much away, Blaine doesn’t fake it and he doesn’t die. Which should come as a surprise to no one. Can you really imagine if this were being written after Blaine had not, in fact, caught a bullet from a .22 caliber rifle in his gob and instead it had fired out the back of his big, handsome skull and that was that? You can’t, can you?
Because Blaine’s life never really feels precarious. Even with shotguns. Even with mates, fellow magicians and even his dentist shaking their heads and telling him over and over that he’s one crazy son of a bitch. You absolutely know he is not going to die or else David Blaine: Beyond Magic would not have been finished or broadcast. You know it like you know you’re going to blink again before you get to the end of the next sentence. It makes the attention-seeking stunt by far the least exhilarating in this 42-minute extravaganza. It makes you want to pat him on the head and say: “It’s all right, mate. You don’t have to be such a try-hard.”
Hooked… Cara Delevingne on Beyond Magic
Naturally, there are no such dissenting voices here. For TV, Blaine has roped in the usual gaggle of celebrities to look bedazzled. There’s Arnold Schwarzenegger, who now resembles less a human man and more some sort of glazed crocodile puppet as he looks on at Blaine doing some classic end-of-pier wine-glass eating. Jennifer Lawrence – very much still all human woman – screams at Blaine over FaceTime that he’s a witch, after an impressive cross-continent card trick. Later, Blaine enters John Travolta’s home and does something with his wedding ring, a clothes hanger and his oesophagus. Stop sniggering.
For the Beckhams (also in their home) and for Drake, Blaine does actually seem to go beyond magic, somehow turning his stomach into an aquarium and bringing up a medley of live frogs for his lucky hosts. There is literally nothing not to like about watching Drake and at least 20 entourage members reduced to a collective babbling mess while watching writhing amphibians slip out from between the lips of a man.
And ultimately that’s what makes Blaine a commanding performer: not the card tricks, the glass eating, the endurance tests, being electrocuted for three days straight etc, in and of themselves, but the reactions he draws from those bearing witness to them. It’s the squeals of terrified rapture he elicits from people he meets on the street whose money and belongings he makes disappear (look out for the proper weird one involving an iPhone and a river). In the end, watching 1,000-volt human emotion trumps Tesla coils and chainmail. So put the gun down, David, and stick to coughing up sea creatures in the company of rap megastars.
The problem is that the magic is out of context. It is the old Fitzke (or was it Nelms) saying that making a sandwich appear is interesting, but if your buddy say's I'd love a hot bacon cheese burger and you made it appear THAT is magic. If we could actually do magic, we wouldn't be doing ACAANs or borrowed ring to coathanger or regurgitating frogs (and no, the fact that someone said you could hold a frog in your hand doesn't make it like the sandwich example.). Eugene Burger has a great example of shamanic magic in his book Magic and Meaning - where magic tricks happen as part of rituals. Even with David Blaine, everyone assumes there is an method. Magic is making them forget there is a method.
However, despite her fearsome reputation, Morgana was rarely seen, choosing to live in isolation deep within the nearby forest. It was at the edge of this forest that a young woman named Elena decided to confront Morgana and uncover the truth about the witch's dark reputation. Elena had always been curious and had a thirst for knowledge. She refused to believe the stories and rumors that surrounded Morgana. She believed that there was more to this witch than met the eye. Determined to uncover the truth, Elena ventured into the forest and found Morgana's secluded cottage. Standing at her door, Elena took a deep breath and knocked. To her surprise, Morgana opened the door, revealing a frail old woman with kind eyes. Elena's fear melted away, replaced by curiosity and a desire to understand this enigmatic woman. As they spoke, Morgana shared her side of the story. She explained that her reputation was created by fear and ignorance. Morgana had always been different, possessing a deep connection to nature and the mystical forces that governed the world. She sought to understand and harness these powers for the greater good, but her pursuits were misconstrued as dark and sinister. Over time, Morgana had discovered that her powers were not inherently evil; it was how she chose to use them that determined their nature. She detested the idea of causing harm or bringing misfortune to others. Instead, she used her abilities to heal and protect those in need, employing her knowledge of herbs and incantations to bring about positive change. Elena listened intently, realizing that the rumors surrounding Morgana were false. The witch had become a scapegoat for the fears and insecurities of the villagers. She had been unjustly labeled as evil and dangerous, when in reality, she was a kind and wise woman with a deep understanding of the mystical world. As she left Morgana's cottage, Elena reflected on the power of perception and the danger of blind assumptions. She vowed to spread the truth about the witch with a dark reputation and help others see the beauty and goodness that lied within Morgana's heart. The story of Morgana serves as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that it is essential to question the narratives that society constructs. It is a cautionary tale against judging others based solely on rumors and gossip, urging us to seek the truth hidden beneath the surface..
Reviews for "The Witch with a Dark Reputation: Uncovering the Truth"
1. Jessica - 2/5 stars
"Account of the witch with a dark reputation was a complete disappointment. The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself uninterested in their plight. The pacing was slow and dragged on unnecessarily. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read that failed to deliver on its promising premise."
2. Ryan - 1/5 stars
"I couldn't stand Account of the witch with a dark reputation. The writing was amateurish and the plot felt forced. The dialogue was cliche and the characters were unbelievable. I couldn't find any ounce of enjoyment in this book and had to force myself to finish it. I would not recommend wasting your time on this poorly written and uninspiring story."
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
"Account of the witch with a dark reputation had an intriguing concept, but it fell flat in execution. The storytelling was disjointed and lacked coherence. The author introduced too many subplots and failed to tie them together in a satisfying way. I also found the writing style to be cumbersome and difficult to follow. Although I appreciated the attempt at a unique story, overall, this book was disappointing and failed to deliver a compelling narrative."
4. Mark - 2.5/5 stars
"While Account of the witch with a dark reputation had some interesting moments, it ultimately failed to impress me. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations were unclear. The world-building felt superficial, lacking the depth needed to truly immerse the reader. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. I was left wanting more from this story, which had the potential to be so much better."