Are you convinced that sword swallowing is an art and not a trick?

[kwahu]

I think I concluded this sword-swallowing to be a trick as soon I finished reading the book title. Every profession has some accidents involved in the long run; don't this "sword swallowers" get accidents in this profession? I would love to know how bad it can be.

[stacie k]

I believe that sword swallowing is a practice that can be learned, but it is a very dangerous one! That is why so few people actually do it. Duke did not feel tied to any relationships when he began his circus career, thus he was willing to take the risk. I would imagine the learning process begins with something less lethal than a sword.

[KitabuKizuri]

Sword swallowing thrives on the shock factor/value. Whether it is real or not most likely the performer is doing it for some form of benefit. I think it is a trick which is presented in an artistic way to draw the best reaction from the audience.

[RebeccasReading]

I think it's both! Even as a trick, it takes great skill and practice to pull off. I could certainly never do it!

[SereneCharles]

I'm not. I'm convinced it's a trick.

[Acwoolet]

I am skeptical of sword swallowing, I think that many people do it as a trick. However, I think that it could also be a learned art, possibly part trick and part art form. I think that it would be something that the sword swallower would have to learn over many years of practice.

[Callistus Ibenye]

I don't believe sword swallowing is an art form, it's a tricky act that must required some spiritual undertones.
For something to be an art-form, it should be possible for someone to learn the art.
Trying to learn sword swallowing as an art- form is suicidal.

[kemp1kor]

I’m don’t believe Duke is a fraud. I think the practice can be learned, although I would imagine that people start out swallowing fake swords or other objects before graduating to the real thing.

[bookiegalke]

forget about learning it as an art, I fail to understand why someone would want a sword in their mouth in the first place. the whole thing just freaks me out

[Sanyesto]

I have witnessed with my own eyes such people who even swallow other huge metals, let alone swords. Thus I don't think Duke is a fraud.

[Londera]

Its definitely an art. If I try it Ill die. I have no idea how they do it without cutting their esophagus.

[Shraddha_rc]

I would imagine that when sword-swallowers begin training, they probably don't use sharp swords to start off with, in order to prevent the risk should something go wrong. Then, once they're able to do it successfully, the likely move on to real swords. Even so, it seems incredibly dangerous.

To achieve the goal of sword swallowing, one needs skills. But it can be an art of deceiving. So I'm still unable to guess what I should call it. I have seen sword swallowers and I was awed by them.

[Manali_DC]

I don't think it is a trick. It is a highly dangerous skill, though I agree that people who start training don't do it with the sharp harmful weapons.

[palilogy]

I'm not sure if I am convinced sword swallowing is an art and not a trick. I think for me personally, I would have to see it and performances to better understand and make a better formed opinion. It's in the least something I find takes courage and I don't see myself with much ability to do so.

[daiguerra]

I was so surprised to find that it was learned and not just a trick. I am still skeptical and want to see it in person before I can believe it. I'm not sure that it's something that everyone can learn because I think that you need to have a certain personality before even wanting to learn how to swallow swords. I think that it is both, it is a skill that people have because of the mentality you need to maintain while swallowing swords, and it is also a trick because they have trained themselves to do this.