[from flickr: David Blaine, originally uploaded by your pal Matt.]Over on the West Side, a 32-year-old man from Brooklyn floats in a bubble. His clear plastic womb is heated to the perfect body temperature. He takes nutrition and oxygen from tubes, and expels waste through other tubes. He can see a glassy, gauzy, watery version of life as it walks by him at Lincoln Center, but he is alone, cut off.
David Blaine is a media hound, using his "street" stunt/illusions to sell items embroidered with his name and likeness. My friend Andrea messaged me yesterday and said "you should write about this guy and what a waste of time it is for the media to cover this while people are dying in Iraq." So I looked into the matter. And I was immediately struck that Blaine might be after bigger game wtih his week-in-a-bubble trick.
I think he's portraying George Bush.
And quite cleverly as well. In today's Times, Maureen Dowd's column kicker has President Bush playing hooky from his intractable, self-created Iraq disaster - oblvious to the damage. She quotes an upcoming Vanity Fair article by Todd Purdum in which Vice-President Cheney admits to a zero tolerance for any healthy human self-doubt at all. These guys are floating free in viscous, semi-cear, warm and cozy liquid, attached by tubes to the rest of the world - a thin, pure oxygen version of reality.
Still and all, Blaine's planned stunt at the end of his week in the bubble is an even scarier portrayal. Next Monday on ABC, he will be throw in stranglin chains into deep water with no breathing apparatus, and will be expected to escape while holding his breath.
A brilliant portryal, in my book - of the American soldier in Iraq.
from Amazon.
Yikes. I like how your brain works. Good post.
Posted by: ck | May 03, 2006 at 04:04 PM
Perhaps, though if his campaign contributions are any indication, he may not appreciate his own metaphor.
Posted by: ccobb | May 04, 2006 at 04:10 AM
Some people shop for the joy of shopping at wal*mart, some stay home and watch TV, some browse porn on their computers, some enclose themselves in ice or water filled bubbles for long periods of time.
People come up with all kinds of ways to manifest their pointlessness.
Posted by: brendan | May 04, 2006 at 05:02 PM
*People come up with all kinds of ways to manifest their pointlessness.*
Good one. My favorite way is by posting on this blog.
Posted by: Tom K | May 04, 2006 at 10:21 PM
Hey, look at that cloud up there, it reminds me of George Bush's failed presidency.
Maybe we can drop some parannahs in there with Mr. Blaine.
It's hard for me to say Tom, but your Mets are actually looking like a team this year. Damn near swept my Braves while in town last.
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Sometimes they just push it too much. Am I not right?
Cheers,
Era
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