Is that a printer in your pocket?
11th November, 2024
Let's ponder for a moment a philosophical question regarding the "essence" of magic.
Something that is more and more relevant as our art evolves.
In magic / mentalism, is the effect everything?
Are we "allowed" to do anything method-wise in order to accomplish an effect?
Or do we lose some of the spirit of magic if we can and will resort to methods that might be "too good"?
Mainly electronics and apps.
Maybe undisclosed pre-show and instant stooging could be added to the consideration as well.
The most egregious example to date, a printer inside a wallet that enables the mentalist to predict anything with perfect accuracy.
No need to secretly gather information, no need for clever ruses to force certain outcomes.
A perfect effect accomplished without any need for a traditional "method".
Is that what we ultimately want?
Methods that eliminate the need for cunning deceit to achieve an effect.
Giving us seemingly godlike powers that we can then pass off as "real" to our audiences.
Should we draw a line somewhere?
Or is everything fair game?
Is the need for a method just a hinderance in the art of magic?
Again, is the effect everything?
Or is magic equally about creating clever methods?
Is a printer in your wallet a "clever" method? Equal to the less high-tech things we use?
Maybe it is.
I don't know.
To me it feels like a step too far.
What worries me is that when we eventually get a new Masked Magician, who then exposes all these new methods on primetime TV or a huge streaming platform, the whole art form of mentalism will be labeled as fraud.
I don't know if it can survive such a huge blow.
It's hard to come back from, "Can I see your wallet? There might be a printer inside of it. I've seen it on TV."
Maybe I'm wrong.
Maybe I'm just too old fashioned and narrow minded.
What do you think?
- Max Arcanie