Congrats to Will Houstoun!

[Matthew Field]

Congratulations to will Houstoun, editor of The Magic Circular, for being named The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2015. On the same day (yesterday) Will received his Doctorate degree; his thesis was on Prof. Hoffmann.

Second place in The Magic Circle competition was Noel Qualter, who also received the originality award, and third place was won by James Freedman The Man of Steal).

Matt Field

[Steve Bryant]

Fantastic! Congratulations.

[MManchester]

...his thesis was on Prof. Hoffmann.

I've read about people having a thesis bound, but are they ever made publicly available? I'd like to read it but don't know if he would share it or where to look.

[Bill Mullins]

I wouldn't be surprised if Will's research saw print in a commercial book.

[Leonard Hevia]

...his thesis was on Prof. Hoffmann.

I've read about people having a thesis bound, but are they ever made publicly available? I'd like to read it but don't know if he would share it or where to look.

Houston's thesis should be available at his university. When the thesis paper is approved by the committee, a copy is published and archived at the appropriate department. That copy should be available to the public if it's a public university. If it's a private institution, you might have to be a student there.

I wonder what his thesis statement is. Hoffman was...Erdnase?

[John McDonald]

We are lucky to have someone like Will. The rigor that his thesis will have gone through for a doctorate will have been thorough. It will definitely add to the literature by some margin. I'm excited by that and more to follow. Magic is truly a great community. Speaking of community I am hoping more people have added to the fund for Dean Dill.

[Richard Kaufman]

I heard that Dean is in pretty bad shape ... days or weeks left.

[Bill Mullins]

We are lucky to have someone like Will. The rigor that his thesis will have gone through for a doctorate will have been thorough. It will definitely add to the literature by some margin.

While I have no doubt that Will's thesis will be a well-researched and fascinating document, I'm sure that will be because it was Will that wrote it, and not because of the rigor of the academic approval process. Academics and scholars, in general, don't know enough about magic and conjuring to be in a position to say if a thesis or dissertation on magic/conjuring (as we understand it) is any good, or to suggest changes to ones that have problems.

A few good ones slip through the cracks (I'm thinking of Charles Pecor's, for example) but there's a lot of crap written about magic in academic circles. I've seen magic (our kind) and magick (Aleister Crowley's kind) interpreted as two sides of the same coin. Macknik and Martinez-Conde have done a lot of interesting research, but I think they got a lot wrong as well (or at least that was my impression after seeing them speak once).

[Jonathan Townsend]

First - congratulations on the PhD and raising the bar for academic literature as regards our craft.

The Impact of Professor Hoffman on Magic Literature
according to here:
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Will-Houstoun/1670288838

at a guess (admittedly looking at Hoffmann's work with a cynical eye ) -
a lawyer has demonstrated that one can, with impunity, expose such "secrets" as one wishes in magic, so long as one adopts a conversational tone and does not directly provide names of the inventors or their exposed works.

[MManchester]

The Impact of Professor Hoffman on Magic Literature

I don't care for the title. It was once pointed out to me that impact refers to objects physically colliding. Now, every time someone uses the word when they actually mean influence of affected, I notice it.

[Bill Mullins]

The Impact of Professor Hoffman on Magic Literature

I don't care for the title. It was once pointed out to me that impact refers to objects physically colliding. Now, every time someone uses the word when they actually mean influence of affected, I notice it.

Many words have more than one meaning. The Oxford English Dictionary recognizes and documents both of the meanings of "impact" that you refer to. It cites examples of the collision sense going back to 1781, and examples of the affected/influenced sense as far back as 1817. And, strictly speaking, "effect" is more of a synonym for impact, not "affect". (see Muphry's law)

[Jonathan Townsend]

Impact in the space of literature - its communicated impulse for more such and backsplatter of discussion of 'exposure'. We don't often discuss the space of mood/sentiments which lives adjacent only a heartbeat away where effect becomes affect.

[Q. Kumber]

Here's a clip of Will doing his Two-Fly routine from his DVD set.
It looks so much better in real life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwZh_I16Bgg

[Dustin Stinett]

Congratulations, Will, on two wonderful accomplishments. My question is, which one comes first on the resume?

Dustin

(PS: Those books are still available if you feel like celebrating! )

[Richard Kaufman]

Yes, Bill, they get a LOT wrong.

[willhoustoun]

Dear All,

Thank you for all the nice comments - either event would have made for quite a day but both within a few hours of each other was really wonderful!

For those worrying about the title, don't. The title on the link was wrong (I would try to spell Hoffmann's name correctly ) and hopefully you will be happier with "Professor Hoffmann's Modern Magic: The Rise of Victorian Conjuring."

As suggested, I am sure that my work will be available at some point in the not too distant future - I might take a week or so off first though...

Best,

Will

[John McDonald]

Thanks you can legitimately call yourself Dr Will Houstoun

[Bill Mullins]

the document

[Will Jung]

Congrats Will! Receiving a PhD is one of the highest honors in the world (in my opinion). Sure, many people have their doctorates, but to pursue it and finish it is such a daunting task. I hope to attend grad school and receive a PhD myself one day. You sir, are an inspiration!

I heard that Dean is in pretty bad shape ... days or weeks left.

I am saddened to hear that...I hope that is not the case. He will stay in my prayers.

[Richard Kaufman]

I'm a Doctor of DeLandology.

[John McDonald]

Just seen Will is being interviewed this week on Richard Young's "the magicians podcast."