David Blaine- TED Talk #2

What are your take-aways from this video? What are the speakers effective speaking techniques? What is his/her presentation style? What matters from this video? How does it connect to you personally? To education? To the world? David Blaine, a world record holder for the longest amount of time spent underwater while holding one's breathe, shared his views on the world and how to accomplish your goals through determination and will. After many long months of training, Blaine was able to set the record of 17 minutes and 4 seconds while holding his breath underwater. But in order to accomplish this goal, Blaine shared with the audience his strategies while attempting this feat. For example, Blaine shared that he had to preform major studies, research, and obtain much doctor input in order to fully understand his body and the risks he would be taking if he attempted this record. He challenged himself mentally and physically by training and testing his body, by which he accomplished through great determination. I believe Blaine's main message he wished to spread to the world was to never give up on your dreams. Although they may be difficult, one must push through those obstacles and fulfill what they truly believe in. Besides constant critiques and a lack of media support, Blaine continued to push through and eventually accomplish his goal. I think he wished to tell the world that you must push yourself to be truly successful in one's passion. Throughout David Blaine's TED Talk, he continued to maintain the audience's attention by telling jokes and stories. He also engrossed the audience with interesting past experiences as well as his many failed attempts at this goal. He shared every failure, lack of confidence, and problem he faced, which I believe made him a more relatable figure in the eyes of the world. By admitting that he had mistakes, Blaine was able to glorify his success. Though he may have seemed to be exaggerating a few aspects of his stories, overall Blaine was able to gain respect for his accomplishments by being down to earth, confident, and friendly while speaking to the audience. Although David Blaine's TED Talk contained interesting stories and cliff hanger tales, his speech was a bit bland. He usually talked in a monotone voice, with lack of enthusiasm or much emotion. The only time excitement was showed was when he talked about completing his goal or attempted to tell a joke, which usually wasn't clear to the audience and led to awkward laughs among the crowd. He also stood in the same place throughout the entire twenty minutes, making the information he shared less interesting and capturing than it would have been if he had used gestures and movement. I think motion appeals to the human eye, whereas a stagment figure becomes less appealing. This strategy may have led to less interest in Blaine's story whereas with enthusiastic behavior, Blaine would have recieved more reception from his audience. I believe Blaine's message of how pushing past barriers, having will and determination, and preparing oneself for the future will ultimately benefit oneself was an important message shared in this video. His accomplishments have contributed to scientific studies, of which have examined the limits of the human body. This contribution will aid education greatly in schools around the world, as well as provide evidence for future studies on the subject. Blaine's accomplishments have shown the world that virtually anything is possible if we have the right tools, capability, and will to make it happen. It has opened new doors to scientific studies and curiousity about the human body. Blaine's ability to risk everything, even his life, has led the world into a new way of thinking. Instead of aiming for the bare minimun, or what we know is possible, people around the world, encouraged by Blaine's actions, have begun reaching for the once thought to be impossible ideas of our world today. Personally, I am at awe by what Blaine has done. His actions inspire me to reach for more than average. It has encouraged me to seek out new adventures and possibilites in our world and work for something greater. As Blaine said, "If it could be done by one, it can be done by others." I think what Blaine was trying to say is that we, as a modern society, should not be intimidated by the possibilites of our world, but rather reach out to find them, find the magic in our world. With these new ideas, our society can grow scientifically, physically, and mentally to instill a progressive world.