This document discusses the history and evolution of ventriloquism as a performance art. It begins with definitions of ventriloquism and its origins in ancient Greece, where it was seen as a mystical practice. Through the middle ages it was viewed as a form of witchcraft. In the early 20th century it became popular as a vaudeville act and among Hollywood celebrities. Films often used ventriloquism to play on audience fears. More recently, entertainers like Jim Henson have made the art more kid-friendly through puppetry and Muppets. The document proposes a photography project combining the styles of Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, and David LaChapelle to portray

1. PERFORMANCE & MAGIC
Drew Hagen- Art 402

2. MAGIC AND
PERFORMANCE IN
POPULAR CULTURE

3. VENTRILIQUISM
 Definition of VENTRILOQUISM (Webster’s Dictionary)
 1: the production of the voice in such a way that the sound seems to come from
a source other than the vocal organs of the speaker
 2: the expression of one's views and attitudes through another; especially :
such expression by a writer through a fictional character or literary persona
 Or in other words…Performance

4. HISTORY
 Ventriloquism first noted in a historical context in ancient Greece, and
thought to be a religious, mystical practice (they thought it was the voice
of the undead speaking through the mystic)
 Seen as a kind of witchcraft during the middle ages
 Now seen as a kind of comedy or vaudeville act with creepy
undertones…

8. C E L E B R I T I E S, V E N T R I L O Q U I S M &
THE ART OF THE PUPPET
Charlie
Chaplin
With
puppet

9.  In the early 20th century, ventriloquism and magicians became
quite fashionable, especially with the Hollywood crowd
 Interestingly about the same time that American and European
interest in mysticism and séances also became very trendy.

10. Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy Paul Winchell and …??

12. CINEMA & THE CREEPY
FACTOR
 With Movies, the ventriloquist theme was always used to play on
audience fears (and still is a reoccurring theme)
 TV shows like the Twilight Zone, and films like the British horror
film Dead of Night and many more kept this performance art in the
public consciousness through fear.

13. Images from the Twilight Zone TV series

14. Dead of Night (1945)

15. Magic (1978)

16. C H A N G I N G FAC E O F T H E
A RT ? ?
 Thanks to more kid friendly entertainers like Jim Henson, the
Muppets, and many other children’s shows, the art of ventriloquism
and puppetry have at times combined and flourished under this
relationship.
 Jeff Dunham is considered by most to be the most commercially
accepted and financially successful ventriloquist artist of all time.

17. Jeff
Jim Dunham
Henson

18. THIS PROJECT…
Richard Avedon
style of portrait…

19. Mixed with a little
Diane Arbus absurdity…

20. =? (Image 1)

21.  Second image, and evolution of the first, with 1 part Richard
Avedon, 1 part Annie Leibovitz =???? (second image)


22.  Third image, a continuing evolution of the first two, with 1 part
Annie Leibovitz and 1 part David LaChapelle =??? (third image)

23. Fin