Jan Hellesøe

[[File:Jan Hellesøe.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Hellesøe in 2014]]
{{skepnav}}
{{cquote|But we will cut the umbilical cord to the [[supernatural]], because it doesn't exist.|||Jan Hellesøe<ref>[https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/fuckr-med-dn-hjrne-de-7-doedssynder/fuckr-med-dn-hjrne-2/fuckr-med-dn-hjrne-3-10#!/28:06  ''Fuckr med dn hjrne'', Danmarks Radio, Season 2, Episode 3, 28:05].</ref>}}

'''Jan Hellesøe''' {{lived|1982}}<ref name="Cornelius">[https://web.archive.org/web/20180701222105/https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/article4525895.ece Camilla Cornelius, "Han fucker med din hjerne på tv," ''Ekstra Bladet'', Aug. 21, 2013, accessed Sep. 14, 2019.]</ref><ref>[https://www.lykkemusic.dk/jan-hellesoe Jan Hellesøe: Fuckr med dn hjrne] ''Lykke''.</ref> is a [[Denmark|Danish]] mentalist and [[magic|magician]] primarily known as the star of the Danish TV shows ''Fuckr med dn hjrne'' (translatable as "Fuckng with yr brain") and ''Manipulator''.

Like many mentalists, Hellesøe actively advocates for [[skepticism]], and encourages viewers to avoid being taken for a ride, as well as dismissing [[horoscope]]s and other such [[superstition]]s.<ref name="Cornelius"/> Using a combination of what appears to be phenomenal memory, [[psychology|psychological]] insight, [[hot reading]], [[cold reading]], [[hypnosis]], [[priming]], sleight-of-hand, leaving cues in the peripheral vision of his "victims," social engineering, and other techniques, Hellesøe can achieve seemingly impossible manipulations of people.

While he does not reveal his more elaborate illusions, similar to a Danish [[Penn and Teller]], Hellesøe sometimes shows a simpler illusion, then demonstrates how he constructed it, in an effort to encourage viewers' [[critical thinking]].

Hellesøe is notable for inviting to his show [[brain]] researchers, [[psychologist]]s, and generally people who identify as skeptical, and for involving them in his illusions. His show frequently mentions recent [[peer review|peer-reviewed]] [[research paper]]s, while at the same time showing how it is possible to create what look like [[paranormal]] phenomena with the right preparation, resources, and talents.

Hellesøe travels to [[New York]] for one show, and views an [[exorcism]] by [[Bob Larson]], who charges him $750 for the privilege. He later stages an exorcism using only hypnosis and a few props, casting doubt on the authenticity of any exorcism. Hellesøe also succeeds in replicating a staging of the circumstances of a 1951 "hypnotic murder"<ref>Unfortunately, That Other Wiki only has [https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosemordet an article on this bizarre incident in Danish]</ref> depicted in the 2018 film ''Murderous Trance'' (originally titled ''The Guardian Angel'').<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190918124938/https://nordicdrama.com/pilou-asbaek-to-investigate-the-hypnosis-murders/ "Pilou Asbæk to investigate the hypnosis murders," Nordic Drama website, Feb 8, 2017, accessed Sep. 18, 2019.]</ref> Hellesøe also participated in a documentary produced in 2018 about the “hypnotic murder” as part of a series by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation about murders in Denmark.<ref>[https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/danske-mord-3/danske-mord-4/danske-mord-hypnosemordene Danske Mord: Hypnosemordene] (in Danish and may not be viewable from non Danish IP addresses)</ref>

In one show, Hellesøe even stares at a [[goat]] for a prolonged period, trying to get it to fall down.<ref>[https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/fuckr-med-dn-hjrne-de-7-doedssynder/fucker-med-din-hjerne/fuckr-med-dn-hjrne-2-8#!/20:04  ''Fuckr med dn hjrne'', Danmarks Radio, Season 1, Episode 2, 20:04].</ref> [[The Men Who Stare at Goats|No goats were harmed in the making of that episode.]] What's not to like?

==See also==
*''[[The Men Who Stare at Goats]]'' — for a [[Credulity|credulous]] view of goat staring

==External links==
*[https://www.janhellesoe.dk Jan Hellesøe's website]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{stub|skepticism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hellesoe, Jan}}
[[Category:Denmark]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Magicians]]
[[Category:Rationalism]]
[[Category:Skeptics]]

Categories: Denmark, Magic, Magicians, Rationalism, Skeptics