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

Use this forum to discuss the May 2018 Book of the Month, "The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid" by Gary Robinson
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lavellan
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Re: Are you convinced that sword swallowing is an art and not a trick?

Post by lavellan »

I think that sword-swallowing is indeed a art that requires a lot of skill. One wrong move and serious injury can occur.
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adedeji adedotun
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Post by adedeji adedotun »

I accept a sword can be swallow, because I believe everything and anything can happen under the surface of earth, I also believe a practise event come to reality.
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koechkenn
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Post by koechkenn »

unless we're leaving in a robotic world this is impossible under the sun
ChrisChatfield
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Post by ChrisChatfield »

Why does it have to either a trick or art form? Many people do tricks that have an artistic flair.
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Christina Rose
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Post by Christina Rose »

MidnightBasm wrote: 24 May 2018, 08:39 I think that art should be enjoyable and unique. Therefore I think sword swallowing is indeed an art because it manages to capture the audiences attention and to make an impression on them. Duke certainly does that.
I don't believe in magic, but that doesn't stop me to enjoy such performances. They take a lot of hard work and you can't help but appreciate the magician. The artist. I feel the same way about sword swallowing.
I like your answer. It suggests that, regardless of whether or not you believe sword swallowing is possible, it is still an art. It still takes practice and dedication.
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berma
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Post by berma »

sword swallowing can be learn, either with swords or sticks but the learner must be careful because it is a dangerous art.
it is a skill which amuses people and through the uncommon way, it must be performed by professionals not trainee
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BoundlessLaughter
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Post by BoundlessLaughter »

I think it's more of a skill than any of those two. It's acquired you'd have to be doing and practicing it for a long time in order to do it right.
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rene david brown
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Post by rene david brown »

Sword swallowing is an art mastered by constant practice;the performer has to learn to avoid pharyngeal reflex as a result of the sword touching the roof of their mouth,back of their tongue,area around the tonsils,the uvula and the back of their throat lest they succumb to suffocation
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Amy+++
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Post by Amy+++ »

I think it takes skill and a lot of guts to do something like that.
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Post by bootsie0126+ »

M Nshangika wrote: 10 May 2018, 05:37
meadhbh wrote: 03 May 2018, 08:44 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.
Yes, I support your opinion. There was a story of this magician that passed a sword through his hand without bleeding and it was discovered that he cut into himself repeatedly until it scarred over a hole in his hand that he then used to perform his trick.
Magic acts and/or tricks both require effort and in some cases pain. They should be appreciated.
Sword swallowing has never been categorize as magic. Never has the act of sword swallowing being introduced as "the magic act of sword swallowing". Magic is one thing, skillful art is another. When you go see performances by David Copperfield or other magician and illusionist, you know what you are in for. A cleverly preformed trick that entertains. People understand that its magic but are unable to comprehend how it is done. This why people do not believe that sword swallowing is real. Because they are unable to explain, it couldn't possibly be real in the eyes of most people.
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Okafor Prosper
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Post by Okafor Prosper »

Impossible is nothing. That being said, anything can be learnt.
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Post by solanaphillip800 »

i believe it is trick not possible to be an art
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davidsam31
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Post by davidsam31 »

Applying tricks for performing art is an unavoidable. To attract the audience tricks must be applied so swallowing sword is an art not a trick.
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Post by amybo82 »

I completely believe that sword swallowing is an art. It can be very dangerous, and you have to have incredible control and patience to learn how to do it. I’ve been interested in sideshow/circus/freak culture since I read Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love. Through a lot of reading over the past decade, I can confidently say that sword swallowing and many of the other sideshow acts that are still around today are real.
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. –Neil Gaiman
Salihu Auwal Lugga
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Post by Salihu Auwal Lugga »

Sword swallowing to me is nothing but magic and a mere illusion. Though I would want to be convinced beyond any doubt that it is possible.
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