Please retire the term, "cardman."

[Jack Shalom]

"In the world of professional magic there have been few lady magicians. Of these, one of the loveliest, and certainly one of the most talented, is A’ree, the Queen of Hearts. Matchless in sleight of hand, and a brilliant entertainer, her star is rapidly ascending.

In private life A’ree is Arie Mc-Chesney. She is a past president of the Parent Assembly of Magigals and is also a member of Hollywood Magigals and of the International Guild of Prestidigitators. At conventions she won the coveted Houdini Diamond and numerous other trophies and awards for performing excellence.

Billed as a “femanipulator,” A’ree has been constantly busy in the West. She has toured with Hick’s Sunshine Circuit, has been in demand for television shows and has appeared in many of the better clubs and nite spots. As beautiful as she is skilled, the demands for her program have been steadily increasing.

A’ree was the first woman to be graduated by the Chavez College of Magic for the latter’s post-graduate course. There she achieved highest honors. Now she’s headed for the conventions in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. It’s certain that the East will acclaim her, as has the West. In her graceful hands, magic transcends both art and science.

Her work is in tune with performing conditions as they exist today. She can present her acts almost anywhere, under the most strenuous of conditions. Even her bright variety number, “Artistry in Sand,” may be thus presented. No wonder the agents are quick to book A’Ree."

[Marty Jacobs]

I do think the words we use are important. As a hobby and profession, magic needs more female magicians. If being more careful with the words we use helps to address this gender imbalance, then I think that's a small price to pay.

"Card magician", "cardician", "card manipulator", "card mechanic", "cardist" or "sleight-of-hand artist" all seem like sensible options, depending on what suits the situation (or character of the performer). Of course, if a female magician wants to be called a "magicienne" or a "femanipulator", that's fine, too. The same goes for a male performer who wants to be known as a cardman.

But I try to avoid gender-specific terms when writing about magic because I think that does subtly exclude women. It is also wise to make your spectators male and female or just say, "Ask a person to shuffle the pack." I also don't mind using "they" as a singular pronoun.

Now, what do we say instead of layman? Is muggle gender-neutral?

Marty

[Jonathan Townsend]

...
Now, what do we say instead of layman? Is muggle gender-neutral?

How about customer
or audience,
or volunteer,
or heckler,
or witness?


Also, J. K. Rowling gave us the word "muggle" ... along with her other clever wordplay (including some Latin for the spell words)

[Marty Jacobs]

Yeah, I was joking about muggle. I've always thought it sounded derogatory, e.g., you dirty, filthy, half-blooded muggle! I'm also not a big fan of J.K. Rowling. Her ideas are appealing but derivative (I'm convinced she lifted a lot of the better ideas from other children's books, such as Tim and the Hidden People and The Worst Witch) and her writing is no way near as good as her contemporaries, such as Terry Pratchett. I prefer the books by Phillip Pullman.

I just call them "people" or "participants".

[MagicbyAlfred]

For whatever Rowling's shortcomings as a writer might be, she is a great humanitarian. By the year 2012, her donations to charities, several of which she founded, and which are mainly devoted to helping at risk women and children, had totaled over $160 million. (See "J.K. Rowling: billionaire to millionaire". The New Zealand Herald. 12 March 2012).

On a related note, I have her to thank for the plot and story line of the children's cups and balls routine I've done for years, starring Harry, and his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, whose parts are played by three little balls, tastefully adorned in red wool sweaters.

Oh, and last I'd heard, the term, "cardman," largely due to pressure from members of this Forum, had indeed retired, and is now living in a condo in a senior community in Florida.

[Marty Jacobs]

Yeah, I don't think she's a bad person or even a bad author, and I recommend her books all the time (she's discovered a formula that resonates with young readers in particular). However, she could at least say thank you to the likes of Jill Murphy, who's books clearly inspired the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

[Brad Henderson]

Wouldn’t the henderson neutral of layman be lay person?

[Dave Le Fevre]

Yeah, I was joking about muggle. I've always thought it sounded derogatory, e.g., you dirty, filthy, half-blooded muggle!

Glad to find that I'm not alone in that. Regardless of its origin, it always sounds (to me) as if it's describing an extremely gullible idiot.

[Jonathan Townsend]

I just call them "people" or "participants".

++

The writer Neil Gaiman did a four issue mini-series for DC comics "The Books of Magic". Are you familiar?

Another writer, Alan Moore did a clever critique/reframe of the Rowling magical world in his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen volume III: Century (third chapter) which merits discussion - also about Mary Poppins if you've read those stories.

Spoilers: https://lxg.fandom.com/wiki/The_League_ ... _Come_Down

[Tarotist]

While you are all chattering about semantics there is another word which should be deleted from magician's language with far more urgency than cardman. It is "fool" or "fooling" which has most reprehensible connotations. There is a superior and arrogant tone to the word which tends to encourage an attitude of "Ha! Ha! I fooled you!" Why in God's name can't you say "baffle" or "mystify" quite baffles and mystifies me. It doesn't bloody fool me though.

[MagicbyAlfred]

While you are all chattering about semantics there is another word which should be deleted from magician's language with far more urgency than cardman. It is "fool" or "fooling" which has most reprehensible connotations. There is a superior and arrogant tone to the word which tends to encourage an attitude of "Ha! Ha! I fooled you!" Why in God's name can't you say "baffle" or "mystify" quite baffles and mystifies me. It doesn't bloody fool me though.

Or any (or all) of the three "A"s are perfectly wonderful: Amaze, Astonish, Astound.

[Bob Coyne]

Wouldn’t the henderson neutral of layman be lay person?

Shouldn't that be henderchild?

[Jonathan Townsend]

Aggressive language is a pretty good early warning that person’s sense of “entertainment using magic” is far from endearing.

Please also keep in mind that magic presumes effective deception - otherwise it’s monologue, prop comedy, dancing with props… something other than magic.

[Brad Henderson]

Wouldn’t the henderson neutral of layman be lay person?

Shouldn't that be henderchild?

HA! Apparently autocorrect turned gender to henderson. Does that make me trans gender?

[MagicbyAlfred]

...Apparently autocorrect turned gender to henderson...

I have found that autocorrect frequently does magic. Unfortunately, it is along the lines of the Sorcerer's Apprentice.