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magicFreak2 Inner circle 1220 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-11 15:39, johncesta wrote: I will take this reply at face value against my better judgment... |
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julieannjohnson Veteran user 305 Posts |
Christian and Katalina wrote: "Magic, music, movies are all genres. They are vehicles for entertainment and meaning. It is up to the entertainer/artist to construct a premise and reason for the vehicle."
This I agree with. Christian and Katalina wrote: "The problem is that most people performing mentalism become so enamored by its apparent deeper meaning and power that they feel that is the only way it can be performed." This I do not agree with. It sounds like a rhetorical attempt to break apart the previously stated balance between entertainment and meaning, by sharply criticizing those who enjoy working with meaning ("become so enamoured of" meaning) and then suddenly stripping away the previously-cited "meaning" by declaring it to be an illusion of meaning -- "its <b>apparent</b> deeper meaning"[emphasis mine]. Christian and Katalina wrote: "Mentalism is entertainment." And this is strongly DISagree with. What we have here looks to me like a rhetorical bait-and-switch: 1) Mentalism is a "genre" of performance consisting of "entertainment" plus "meaning." 2) Performers who "become enamoured" of "meaning" create a "problem" by failing to honour the "entertainment" portion of mentalism. 3) Unlike "entertainment", "meaning" is only "apparent." 4) "Mentalism is entertainment". Premise (4) contradicts premise (1). But, back to the original question: if I decide to accept the original premise, that different forms of magical performance can be related directly to various primal or basic human concerns, I have two further comments: 1) In another thread, on children's magic, it was stated that it is never a good idea to end a kid's show with a bunny vanish because the kids will worry about the bunny. Instead, the show should end with a bunny production and, if possible, the kids may then be allowed to touch and pet the bunny. THIS IS TRUE WISDOM. The "meaning" of the bunny vanish is different than the "meaning" of the bunny production. Even a child knows this! 2) Mentalism is no more a matter of pure "entertainment" than a bunny vanish or production; like them, it has "meaning," specifically, the inherent "meaning" that the human species finds in connecting to the thoughts of another human being. Most of us have felt that sense of connection, and many of us thrill to it, in one form or another. Therefore, like the bunny production, and whether simulated through Q&A, Hellstromism, CR, book test, drawing duplication, or what have you, mentalism will always have "meaning," and the "meaning" cannot be considered either a "problem" or a vestigial appendix to the "entertainment." |
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mentalmagic101 New user 32 Posts |
Christ! You guys are sooooo far up your own bottoms I cant believe it.
Do you know that this much analysis can spoil a show. Just enjoy and stop thinking so much about why. If it works do it if it doesn't don't. SIMPLE"S |
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