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Chris Angel

I don't think that's accurate. I've heard him on Penn's radio show specifically saying he doesn't want anyone to think he has supernatural powers, and deriding performers who work that angle.

Note that the quote above could be completely true; meditation could help him devise ways of doing the things he does. That doesn't necessarily imply that they're what they seem to be. ;)
 
Banacheck, one of the guest speakers on the cruise, frequently appears on Angel's show (as does Banachek's wife), and is on the show's staff. Banachek does not believe in supernatural powers.

Draw your own inferences.
 
Keep in mind that some of Criss Angel's stunts are basically what they appear to be.

Even effects that take advantage of "secrets" may require considerable physical ability and mental concentration. Still others require intense trust in oneself, in one's crew and in one's equipment, and suppression or control of fear that many would find disabling.

Criss does not tell his audience which effects are real and which are aided by undetectable "secrets." And it's not unusual for him to say that there is a risk of death or injury when the actual risk is fairly low.

Besides, it has been my position that effects such as levitations, teleports and telekinesis are done largely through the power of the mind:

The mind of the spectator perceives an effect that it did not actually witness.

The mind of the performer devises a way to make something impossible appear to be possible.

The mind of the performer controls the performer's muscles, which in turn control an effect that seems to be psychokinesis or levitation or some other mysterious event.
 
Brown said:
Besides, it has been my position that effects such as levitations, teleports and telekinesis are done largely through the power of the mind:

The mind of the spectator perceives an effect that it did not actually witness.

The mind of the performer devises a way to make something impossible appear to be possible.

The mind of the performer controls the performer's muscles, which in turn control an effect that seems to be psychokinesis or levitation or some other mysterious event.
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But we could extend that line of reasoning to claim that everything by done humans and animals is done largely through the power of the mind. Then it becomes a meaningless claim.
 
Yes if we redefine the meanings of words we can prove anything.


OK I'm glad too see I (or wiki writer) just misinterpreted Angel's words :)
 
Bob Klase said:
But we could extend that line of reasoning to claim that everything by done humans and animals is done largely through the power of the mind. Then it becomes a meaningless claim.
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It always has been.
 
the claims of "largely through" and "only through" are quite different.
 
As far as I know, he asserts that he has no powers, especially when confronted with fans who think he actually does have powers.
However he doesn't seem to do it in the same way that Randi, or Penn & Teller would do it; he doesn't say to the audience that what he is about to do is done through slight of hand or trickery, he just says 'I'm going to attempt something,' or something along those lines - no mention of the supernatural, or lack of the supernatural at all. This leaves more open for the audience's imagination to play with :)
 
If you follow Angel you'd know he's worked closely with Randi, Jacob Spinney, Penn, Banachek all JREF'ers. On Penn's show he's fully disclosed his beliefs. But he does let his fans come to whatever conclusion they want without contradicting them...
 
Gulliamo said:
If you follow Angel you'd know he's worked closely with Randi, Jacob Spinney, Penn, Banachek all JREF'ers. On Penn's show he's fully disclosed his beliefs. But he does let his fans come to whatever conclusion they want without contradicting them...
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This is true. Alot of performers will allow spectators to come to their own conclusions. I prefer that performers do that. Of couse, I already have the conclusion.
 
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