From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2007 12:42:04 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] What is it about puppets?


>I was carrying a puppet from a sidewalk storefront out to my car one
day and we surprised a passerby as we came out the door. The puppet
started a greeting and the young woman said "Oh no no, get away from
me!" and she really did seem creeped out.
>Ed a

Hi Ed.

Whenever a puppet has made a kid cry, I just make the puppet look scared of 
the child too, and that always seemed so ridiculous that the child started 
laughing. It works with babies too, try the peek-a-boo approach.
The times it did not work were when a child was really throwing a fit, and 
that only happened twice.
When there seems that the kids are not sure what to  think of this 
weirdness, I make the first moves with the parents instead. Once the parents 
interact with the puppet, "it sure must be ok", the children think.
These relate to crowd entertainment.

Usually, when my puppets scared the kids, it was more because of its 
outreaching attitude, it's sudden appearance, and the uncertainty of "what 
the heck is that thing stuck to that person???"



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Atkeson" <edatkeson-AT-earthlink.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] What is it about puppets?


> Fred T. >>> Bottom line is that not all puppets come across as 'creepy'
> to all audiences. Further, I think it sad that the word 'dead' is used
> so much in reference to an Artform that is to me, full of life and
> potential. I understand the use of the word in the article, but as HOOK
> exclaimed: 'The canker gnaws...'
> ------
> >>> Or did I miss the point?
>
>
> -----------------
> A thoughtful response to the article!
>
> I was carrying a puppet from a sidewalk storefront out to my car one
> day and we surprised a passerby as we came out the door. The puppet
> started a greeting and the young woman said "Oh no no, get away from
> me!" and she really did seem creeped out.
>
> And I suppose everyone has had kids burst into terrified tears when
> confronted with a puppet. Why are psychologists talking about puppet
> phobia? There seems to be a fascinating tickle when you go across the
> line between animate and inanimate. I've never thought puppets are
> creepy, but I get the tickle, I understand how people could feel that
> way.
>
> To me it has nothing to do with necromancy or otherness, it's a way I
> can make things and put on a show with friends. ...but still, there is
> that certain something about puppets.
> best,
> Ed A
>
> http://www.firlefanzgallery.com/Rhino17.html
>
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