A writer on magic and being special

Discussions of new films, books, television shows, and media indirectly related to magic and magicians. For example, there may be a book on mnemonics or theatrical technique we should know or at least know about.
Jonathan Townsend
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A writer on magic and being special

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 6th, 2021, 9:53 am

Some words from a writer about the notion of magic and its relationship to the practical:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/podc ... cript.html

Magic as means versus what magic means :)

Of course it's okay to go out and prank, use magic in place of short stories/jokes at parties, ... set students on merry chases/scavenger hunts - shaggy dog stories - and institutional fictions.

Edward Pungot
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Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:55 am

Re: A writer on magic and being special

Postby Edward Pungot » May 12th, 2021, 5:49 pm

"The Evolution of Human Science"
or
"Catching Crumbs from the Table"
Ted Chiang. Nature, 2000.
https://www.nature.com/articles/35014679

"What's Expected of Us"
Ted Chiang. Nature, 2005.
https://www.nature.com/articles/436150a

Anthony Vinson
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Joined: July 10th, 2010, 12:34 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: A writer on magic and being special

Postby Anthony Vinson » May 13th, 2021, 3:05 pm

Edward Pungot wrote:"The Evolution of Human Science"
or
"Catching Crumbs from the Table"
Ted Chiang. Nature, 2000.
https://www.nature.com/articles/35014679

"What's Expected of Us"
Ted Chiang. Nature, 2005.
https://www.nature.com/articles/436150a


I LOVE Ted Chiang's writing, as well as the way he thinks. That second linked article, What's Expected of Us", is outstanding! Oh, and he's right, you know...

Av

Edward Pungot
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Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:55 am

Re: A writer on magic and being special

Postby Edward Pungot » May 13th, 2021, 4:56 pm

SPOILER ALERT: Richard K.'s doppelgänger makes a cameo in the movie Arrival. Sci-fi doesn't get any weirder than that.

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Richard Kaufman
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Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
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Re: A writer on magic and being special

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 13th, 2021, 9:00 pm

Am I the Cthulu behind the glass?
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Jonathan Townsend
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Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Westchester, NY
Contact:

Re: A writer on magic and being special

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 14th, 2021, 11:28 am

If you're looking for insight into magic from a writer's perspective - they seem to like this line from Bagehot "... is to be reverenced, and if you begin to poke about it you cannot reverence it…Its mystery is its life. We must not let in daylight upon magic."
Ted Chiang's comment about being special finds a place in this longer discussion... we ordinarily play at parody of such claims of 'special'.


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