MagicHodge

          Although one rarely encounters a magician in person, the online community is incredibly diverse. From professionals to amateurs, hobbyists, and collectors range a wide variety of virtual resources. Some of these are magic product dealing websites and forums such as Penguinmagic.com, digitally-focused websites such as DanandDave.com, and video sharing sites – namely YouTube.com. What’s perhaps most interesting is that the magic community, in contrast with the majority of other classmates’ subject communities is that while there seems to be an outreach of teaching and free tutoring and aid for beginners and advanced practitioners of subject area alike.

          Within the magic community there are two main arts – magic and cardistry. A magician is one who practices the art of magic with myriad objects such as cards, coins, gimmicks, etc. and presents a show, demonstration, or feat to an audience in order to deceive the senses and amaze the audience. One who practices the art of cardistry is called a cardist or card flourisher. The difference between the art of cardistry and that of magic is that cardistry is a demonstration of one’s mastery of card-handling and dexterity with a presentation of aesthetically pleasing feats such as fanning or flourishing cards.

  There are a variety of websites that support both the magic and flourishing communities. Among these are magic product websites, digital content-focused websites, forums, and video-sharing websites. A prime example of a magic product website is Penguinmagic.com that produces and sells magic to magicians. A website more focused on digital content is Theory11.com. It sells numerous magic trick and flourishing DVDs as well as playing cards. However, Theory11 also sells numerous tricks and DVDs as digital downloads. In addition to the aforementioned examples, Theory11 also has a completely user-based category of user-contributed, digital content called The Wire where magicians and flourishers may go to view, learn, and possibly share and sell their own original tricks and flourishes. Youtube is an example of one of the many video-sharing sites that allow users to share their magic and cardistry with the world.

“What social media has done to learning is (apart from making it more accessible) made it easier. Where, in the past, one may have needed to read a book as the primary source of learning or find a skilled magician willing to tutor, one may now watch performances and learn that way. It is somewhat difficult to ascertain social media’s effects on the topic aside from accessibility, however it has also made learning faster, and has increased the rate at which new material may be produced as well.” — Nick Hodge

When one browses Web 2.0 for free magic and cardistry material, one has difficulty encountering a wide variety of sources aside from Youtube.com and other amateur-oriented digital content websites. The principle difference demonstrated between the magic and cardistry community when contrasted with others is how private ownership functions in this particular society. Take almost any online community for example – flutists, duct tape designers, rock climbers and builderers, etc. all have free online tutorials, how-to’s, and other sources with which to improve one’s mastery of the art.

Some of these free tutorials are more beginner-oriented, with higher-level and professional instruction requiring a cost. Although both the online flutist and duct tape design communities offer free online help sources at the primary level, there are also instructional videos that require a price. Some professional flutists offer internet lessons, while duct tape designing tutorials seem to taper off as the complexity level of the crafts and products increases. This trend is extremely evident within the magic and cardistry community. While there are some Youtube tutorials and free tricks and tutorials from user-based sites such as The Wire, any professional material is copyrighted and requires payment in order to be downloaded.

“The only real issue I’ve had with the copyright was learning that I couldn’t just learn all those super cool tricks on Youtube, but that I had to pay for them. Once I figured that out, I was pretty understanding. Although I was a bit frustrated, haha. The most pertinent feature of the copyright laws is in teaching and trying to take credit for another’s trick. One may perform whatever trick (online as well) so long as they are not revealing another’s methods or attempting to take credit for the invention of the trick themselves. So, all-in-all, it’s really not too troubling as issue! And I’ve grown to very much appreciate this aspect of magic as well because 90% of all the material I perform is my original material. I’ll need to get it copyrighted soon so no one can take credit for it and I may begin writing my book or producing a DVD! Thanks much for the interesting question!” — Nick Hodge

While there are those magicians and flourishers who do create their own material and post tutorials, there are also those magicians who will get their material copyrighted so that it cannot be taken and put it on the internet for a price via book, DVD, digital download, etc. This is generally found at the professional or semi-professional level and is understood to mean that one is striving towards the goal of professional quality material. This results in a number of tricks and flourishes available to anyone, and a plethora of material made by professionals to further the education and development of aspiring magicians and card flourishers.