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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
I spent the weekend searching previous posts on the perceived differences between performance magic and mentalism. This story is the result.
Jason at last. Jason was a Mentalist by default -- “d’fault” of magic effects being exposed on TV, d’fault of kids learning tricks on YouTube with no understanding of presentation, and d’fault of a Masters Degree in History being worth less than a cup of coffee. Or, at least that’s what he told inquiring friends and the few relatives not too embarrassed to speak with him. In truth, Jason believed he could actually read minds and emotions and pretending on stage was as good a place to hide out as any. Magicians and Mentalists are involved in making the seemingly impossible at least plausible, and Jason was careful to make his effects plausible to other Mentalists to mask his latent abilities. Such performers had once dodged pitchforks and torches from a fear-driven crowd. Now it was the fear of his peers with which Jason had to contend. Where other performers planned on fall-back success to seem more real, Jason planned in a bit of failure to appear less real. It was tough work! It should not come as any surprise that Jason did well in his chosen profession, but was never at the pinnacle of success. An adoring public seemed to accept outrageous claims never fulfilled over lesser promises always met, but this is also true of politics and marketing and religion. So, Jason was content with his show being unique in its demonstrations and insightful in its illusions. After all, being always second in a race pays better that winning only once in a while, or so he told himself and dear wife Hannah. She secretly wished they might be first just once, and he naturally sensed that; so he kept his secret to himself, except that she knew that he did. They laughed a lot together which is all that really matters – or so it seemed to their neighbors. In truth, they needed few actual words to communicate and their souls walked hand in hand. I write this as their only child – an unlikely gift to a couple who thought they never could, or should. For me Dad gave up the vagaries of a performing life and its secrets, while Mom gave up being silently at home with its secrets. I would not know any of this save for the trunk of letters in the attic, something I will keep untold. For that is what magic is made of – the confidence that everyone has a secret, and that each person in an audience desires a chance to act as if they don’t – to lose themselves in a fantasy in which they do not read the fear and guilt on another person’s face. I’ve decided to become a magician who makes a lot of mistakes so that folks can almost figure out what is going on, and together we can share a secret smile. I don’t care if I am first or last – only that I can perform every day. That way Mom and Dad can sit in the back and share a secret pride in not having passed on their psychic gifts. For me it is enough to recognize that the girl in the second row has returned three times, and to know that she comes to cover grief over her husband killed in Iraq, and that seeing simple tricks gives her hope that some magic will return – and that her name is Kathy though no one has told me so.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
It is a personal choice really.
One is not better than the other. I've done both exclusively, so I have a little experience to speak about it I guess... So do most here I think. Follow your heart. You can be entertaining, touching and inspiring doing either or both imho... Do your best regardless. Either way, bring a bit of awe and smiles to the world. More of us need it now. That's what I think.
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2672 Posts |
It's very personal. I returned to magic after many years off, and 'doing tricks' just didn't feel right any more. Doing mentalism I get to talk more about other stuff that interests me and weave it into my effects. I couldn't do that with magic.
It's really different for everyone. |
entity Inner circle Canada 5060 Posts |
Mentalism is a branch of Magic.
- entity
email: tomebaxter@icloud.com
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-02 14:31, entity wrote: Uh oh. Duck and cover there may be a battle over this! ...that being said, I agree. I've never understood the idea that magic and mentalism were different. I think it comes from the fact that mentalism has it's own performance requirements and performance criteria that many "magicians" do not respect, so they end up doing a bad job. That being said, I also do children's magic and I consider that to have it's own requirements and performance criteria that many "magicians" do not respect, so they end up doing a bad job. I've seen a lot of good magicians who have done pretty bad kids shows, because they didn't respect the performance of children's magic differs from regular magic, even if the tricks are the same. So, IMO, either there is just magic and it includes mentalism and children's magic; OR there are actually THREE totally separate fields of entertainments: magic, mentalism, children's magic.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
RichardShure Veteran user 344 Posts |
I am surprised that we are still debating this tired old . . . which is better magic or mentalism.
Its like saying which is better, Action movies or Comedy movies? |
seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-02 14:53, RichardShure wrote: I used to work at a movie theater and I have hear and even engaged in such arguements
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-02 14:53, RichardShure wrote: "or" as a conjunction can bind as will as suggest a choice. There is no debate here. Being an effective Magician requires that one be an affective Mentalist, while a Mentalist must understand the magic of the world that the Magician pretends at.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
Owen Mc Ginty Special user not a stupid user, a special user. 533 Posts |
@ funsway - beautiful story, either way.
For me I think it´s going to be mentalism though, as it permits me a more intense connection with the victim, I mean volunteer.
If you never fail, you're not trying hard enough.
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