Why does Derren Brown swear?

AgeGap · 8th January 2008, 06:01 AM

When he does his routines there is a certain flow that he sometimes interrupts with a swear word. I feel that this is done to cause shift in the audiences thoughts.
In Tricks of the Mind the first paragraph in the Memory chapter is a case in point. He starts off with childish and flowery language and then, bang, he throws in the sweariest of swear words. I am not against swearing but it seems an unnatural pause in the smoothness of the flow.

My theories include;-It is done as some form of punchline, it is a method of keeping the audiences interest high, misdirection or me finding something that exists only in my own mind.

This is bugging me because DB does not appear to be a natural at swearing. I find it akin to driving along a smooth road and hitting a pot hole.
Any thoughts?

Garrette · 8th January 2008, 06:19 AM

I don't recall it in his routines, but he pulls no punches in his books. I found nothing untoward, unsettling, or out-of-place in the books when he used what is normally considered foul language. I knew little about him when I purchased Absolute Magic and Pure Effect, so when I came across the unfiltered language there, I found it refreshing and an indication that the author was a grown-up, with grown-up sensibilities, and an expectation that his audience was also grown-up. I found nothing gratuitous or off-putting.

brettDbass · 8th January 2008, 08:50 AM

I'm currently reading Tricks Of The Mind and found the use of strong language there to have the same effect as on the TV broadcasts - humour, plain and simple.

DJM · 8th January 2008, 08:59 AM

I think Derren's swearing is nothing compared to Penn's.

Garrette · 8th January 2008, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by DJM

I think Derren's swearing is nothing compared to Penn's.

Penn doesn't really swear. It's camera tricks.

Big Les · 8th January 2008, 10:42 AM

I know exactly what you mean, and I think it's just because he sounds posh. Swearing, especially the "F" and "C" words, to which Derren is no stranger (read his book!), always sounds jarring coming out of posh people's mouths.

Which reminds me of a Dog Soldiers quote; "I love it when a posh bird talks dirty".

Nogbad · 9th January 2008, 07:05 AM

Sadowitz is the swearing conjuror's swearer

edd · 14th January 2008, 05:53 AM

It's the sense of humour I think. It's in your 'form of punchline' category. It seems very obvious to me, but that's maybe because I share his British sense of humour?

crackers · 14th January 2008, 07:02 AM

I need glasses. I could have sworn the title of this thread was, "What does Derren Brown wear?"

jimbob · 7th February 2008, 01:58 PM

Just out of interest AgeGap, are you American?

The reason that I ask is that, in my experience, Americans often seem to notice swearing in situations where British people (of most backgrounds) would ******** swear, almost as ****** punctuation. (Actually that ****** pucctuation, where almost every other ****** word is a ******* swearword, only *** tends to ** occur with **** squaddies, if you *** see what I ** mean? ).

I didn't even notice it in the Derren Brown shows, and wouldn't consider myself particlarly fowl mouthed (cluck, I have a weakness for bad puns).

I think it is possibly in less informal situations, or with strangers.

My coxswain at university was American, and when yelling at members of the public to get out of the way, was far more polite than virtually any Brit would have been. "Sir, the rules of the river are that you keep to the ...." And without sarcasm.

There was also a news report during the invasion of Iraq, when a (USMC?) unit came under fire and an NCO politly (but firmly) told the embedded journalist to take cover. I am sure that in different situations NCOs especially could turn the air blue, but I noticed the absense of swearing, in that situation compared to what would be considered normal in the UK...

And as for antipodeans... NSFW (in case you couldn't __ guess)..
Arj Barker on Australian Swearing youtube

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

AgeGap · 7th February 2008, 04:44 PM

No I am English. It is just that DB does it in a manner that does not mark him out as a natural. I am no stranger to swearing. He does a sort of syncopated swearing. I suppose it would be the same if Richard Dawkins or the Arch Bishop of Canterbury came out with the beef.

edd · 11th February 2008, 02:49 AM

Originally Posted by jimbob

My coxswain at university was American, and when yelling at members of the public to get out of the way, was far more polite than virtually any Brit would have been. "Sir, the rules of the river are that you keep to the ...." And without sarcasm.

Most UK coxes wouldn't swear - it's not generally tolerated in competition (although there's a reason whoever is showing the boat race on TV usually regrets it if they play sound from the boat without some emergency mute in place!) and wouldn't be in training either, exception maybe being if noone else was around. Reflects rather badly on the club if the public hear you doing that kind of thing. That level of politeness however ('Sir...') would be unusual though.

jimbob · 11th February 2008, 12:03 PM

That was the point edd, the "Sir" was natural. I was impressed.

8th January 2008, 06:01 AM	#1
AgeGap Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,803	Why does Derren Brown swear? When he does his routines there is a certain flow that he sometimes interrupts with a swear word. I feel that this is done to cause shift in the audiences thoughts. In Tricks of the Mind the first paragraph in the Memory chapter is a case in point. He starts off with childish and flowery language and then, bang, he throws in the sweariest of swear words. I am not against swearing but it seems an unnatural pause in the smoothness of the flow. My theories include;-It is done as some form of punchline, it is a method of keeping the audiences interest high, misdirection or me finding something that exists only in my own mind. This is bugging me because DB does not appear to be a natural at swearing. I find it akin to driving along a smooth road and hitting a pot hole. Any thoughts?
AgeGap Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,803

8th January 2008, 06:19 AM	#2
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	I don't recall it in his routines, but he pulls no punches in his books. I found nothing untoward, unsettling, or out-of-place in the books when he used what is normally considered foul language. I knew little about him when I purchased Absolute Magic and Pure Effect, so when I came across the unfiltered language there, I found it refreshing and an indication that the author was a grown-up, with grown-up sensibilities, and an expectation that his audience was also grown-up. I found nothing gratuitous or off-putting.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

8th January 2008, 08:50 AM	#3
brettDbass Kurious Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Birmingham School Of Business School (Leicester branch) Posts: 1,320	I'm currently reading Tricks Of The Mind and found the use of strong language there to have the same effect as on the TV broadcasts - humour, plain and simple.
	__________________ ist's single Pep Talk available to downlaod on Amazon US, Amazon UK & iTunes NOW! Why not check out my Legendary Guitar Sounds Series?

8th January 2008, 08:59 AM	#4
DJM Muse Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 783	I think Derren's swearing is nothing compared to Penn's.
DJM Muse Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 783

8th January 2008, 09:00 AM	#5
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	Originally Posted by DJM I think Derren's swearing is nothing compared to Penn's. Penn doesn't really swear. It's camera tricks.
Garrette Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,964	__________________ My kids still love me.

8th January 2008, 10:42 AM	#6
Big Les Not so much a medium as a large Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,661	I know exactly what you mean, and I think it's just because he sounds posh. Swearing, especially the "F" and "C" words, to which Derren is no stranger (read his book!), always sounds jarring coming out of posh people's mouths. Which reminds me of a Dog Soldiers quote; "I love it when a posh bird talks dirty".
	__________________ "One of the fundamental freedoms is to write what you like, including nonsense: another, which I am exercising, is to denounce it." -Robert Raikes bshistorian.wordpress.com

9th January 2008, 07:05 AM	#7
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,091	Sadowitz is the swearing conjuror's swearer

14th January 2008, 05:53 AM	#8
edd Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 533	It's the sense of humour I think. It's in your 'form of punchline' category. It seems very obvious to me, but that's maybe because I share his British sense of humour?
edd Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 533

14th January 2008, 07:02 AM	#9
crackers Muse Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 625	I need glasses. I could have sworn the title of this thread was, "What does Derren Brown wear?"
crackers Muse Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 625

7th February 2008, 04:44 PM	#11
AgeGap Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,803	No I am English. It is just that DB does it in a manner that does not mark him out as a natural. I am no stranger to swearing. He does a sort of syncopated swearing. I suppose it would be the same if Richard Dawkins or the Arch Bishop of Canterbury came out with the beef.
AgeGap Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,803

11th February 2008, 02:49 AM	#12
edd Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 533	Originally Posted by jimbob My coxswain at university was American, and when yelling at members of the public to get out of the way, was far more polite than virtually any Brit would have been. "Sir, the rules of the river are that you keep to the ...." And without sarcasm. Most UK coxes wouldn't swear - it's not generally tolerated in competition (although there's a reason whoever is showing the boat race on TV usually regrets it if they play sound from the boat without some emergency mute in place!) and wouldn't be in training either, exception maybe being if noone else was around. Reflects rather badly on the club if the public hear you doing that kind of thing. That level of politeness however ('Sir...') would be unusual though.
edd Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 533	Last edited by edd; 11th February 2008 at 02:50 AM.

11th February 2008, 12:03 PM	#13
jimbob Uncritical "thinker" Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK Posts: 3,136	That was the point edd, the "Sir" was natural. I was impressed.