Yes, We Can Make Laymen Do What We Want

[Richard Kaufman]

Is the fact that we can force a card on someone worth a newspaper article?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/2 ... 38520.html

[Joe Mckay]

I don't think magicians have anything to teach neuroscientists or psychologists.

As much as I love Teller, I didn't enjoy the lecture he once gave arguing that magicians were experts at understanding how people perceive reality.

I guess people in academia are bored and looking for something novel to work on. And like typical laymen assume our secrets are more mysterious than they really are.

I think magicians should try and avoid playing to these crowds since it reeks of insecurity that magic has to have some kind of scientific content. As opposed to just being a fun tool for use in entertaining people.

I am a magician - not a wannabe scientist. And I am not ashamed of that.

[fredreisz]

I find that there is a resurgence of posting on the Net from magicians regarding how much we have to teach regarding how to "persuade" people. There is some truth in that, of course. However, I think this post is missing a key driver of these articles. Magicians are wanting to break into the lucrative speaking market. Thus creating the illusion that our "art" gives specialized insight into persuasion can lead to lucrative and entertaining speaking contracts. Tim David, Kennedy, et cetera has done well with this approach. I am not criticizing the effort and success, just pointing it out. Peace...Fred (Reisz)

[Matthew Field]

Slow news day.

Matt Field

[Bob Farmer]

I have to agree with Teller's analysis. Neuroscientists don't have a clue as to how magic works. They all assume it is entirely based on visual perceptions, like some sort of optical or interpretive illusion. I'll change my view when a neuroscientist invents a really good magic trick.

[Bob Farmer]

There's also a group of psychologists, possibly also neuroscientists, who claim to have discovered the "formulas" for writing hit songs. To date, not one of them has managed to use their "knowledge" to actually write a hit song. Analysis after the fact is easy, creation before the fact is not.

[Leo Garet]

There's also a group of psychologists, possibly also neuroscientists, who claim to have discovered the "formulas" for writing hit songs. To date, not one of them has managed to use their "knowledge" to actually write a hit song. Analysis after the fact is easy, creation before the fact is not.

"Oh what a piece of work is the twelve bar blues."
As Alan Plater said in his meisterwork, "Doggin' Around."
Simple formula, but how many psychologists, scientists, and sundry experts have produced hits? Or even a song or two?
Well, Brian May is some sort of scientist, but how much did that help?

[Bob Farmer]

Brain May was helped by science to design and build his guitar, but I doubt he used the same principles to write Queen hits.

[AJM]

It helped him attain a PhD in Astronomy.
Writing 'Fat Bottomed Girls', not so much....

[Leo Garet]

Brain May was helped by science to design and build his guitar, but I doubt he used the same principles to write Queen hits.

I thought his dad helped him.
But did he use science to design/create his haircut?