talkmagic.co.uk

Am I alone in feeling that the addition of the word "extreme" (or worse 'xtreme) to the art of card manipulation, is a bit silly and in fact rather embarrassing?

Sure, card manipulation has enjoyed a surge of popularity recently and has even evolved quite rapidly, but does this necessitate a renaming of the art?

Juggling was once relatively basic, but its evolution into something far more technical never necessitated a sub category of Xtreme Juggling.
The same goes for pretty much anything; things progress, but rarely is it deemed necessary to tack on catchy little buzzwords to remind us of that fact.

Where will it all end? I guess by 2080 we'll be calling it Super Hyper Mega Ultra eXtrEmE 1337 Card Manipulation.

It is no more strange or silly than 'street magic' to be honest.

i like the sound of 'Super Hyper Mega Ultra eXtrEmE 1337 Card Manipulation.' it'll be out next christmas!

Extreme Card Manipulation always makes me think of someone doing a riffle shuffle whilst bungee jumping.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Extreme Card Manipulation always makes me think of someone doing a riffle shuffle whilst bungee jumping.

You think THAT'S hard? Try doing a sybil whilst jumping across the Grand Canyon on a skateboard! It's VERY hard!

Good point Seige; strangely though, 'street magic' offends my sensibilities much less.

I wonder if this is to do with economy of language or something. The term card manipulation has been needlessly lengthened, although admittedly it works better as an acronym* now.

The difference perhaps, is that the addition of the word street actually conveys extra information. It differentiates a style of magic from a more familiar style that is performed on stage. Perhaps there was a time when this was referred to as 'impromptu magic', in which case the aesthetic of economy prevails as street has two less syllables and is easier to say.

Anyway I’ve got to go now – it’s high time I practiced the flaming no hands bmx-ing crossed charlier double 360 backflip over a farting tramp manoeuvre.


* For the pedantic I know it's not a true acronym

Pigeonholing and magic terminology has certainly changed in the last 20 years.

Perhaps mainly due to the commercialisation of magic, and the possible dilution of it's importance as a form of entertainment: as such, it's become a hobby.

The over-use of hype, glamourous marketing and re-labelling we have seen in the last few years has de-skilled magic in much the same ways that the CANbus interface has de-skilled mechanics.

There's far fewer people I can talk 'proper' magic to these days. Mostly, discussions revolve around phrases, effects and abbreviations I've never even heard of.

10 or so years back, I could count the new magic releases each *YEAR* on the back of a postage stamp. But due to supply and demand, the magic 'factories' are working overtime in producing glossy, contemporary items and maintain a constant stream of releases. And now, the sheer volume of magic being released is crazy.

But...

I see it as just more consumer confusion. When I was a young lad, the 'transformers' toys craze was just starting as I left primary school (I think). Kids flocked to get the toys, and the marketing of merchandise became a brilliant revenue stream.

Now, several years later, it's happening again: the old formula, resurrected nearly 20 years later, has be re-defined, remade, and is literally burning huge holes in parent's budgets as they try to keep their kid's collection as current and complete as possible. One of my nephews, who is only 3 years old, has about £300 worth of Transformers toys already.

So... whether you call it rebadging, rebranding or simply 'changing the name to re-launch it', these 'new' and 'exciting' contemporary sounding re-hashes and re-thinkings are simply marketing ploys.

Xtreme Card Magic is not even a form of magic. It's closer to juggling. (As we've previously discussed). And other 'kewl' phrases and contractions, such as CiB, Masters, etc.

And street magic has more to do with a certain Amercian magician than anything else, and in my mind is similar to the way Coca Cola is responsible for the red-suited bearded depiction of Santa Claus.

Most YouPube 'dudes' wouldn't even know these facts, because they were born into a time when these things were already established and born.

But, for those of us who remember how magic was before all this tripe, and as LONG as we remember it, then there's still a great big chunk of loveliness that these kids will never take away from us.

(cue the theme from Hovis...)

that brought a tear to my eye... its so beautiful

I prefer Super-Happy-Fun Time-Domo Aregato Mr Roboto-Card Manipulation. The last time I attempted XTREME Card Manipulation the cards leapt out of my hands and dealt a roundhouse kick to my throat.

Too effing risky for me.

Its simply overated, blame De'vo and Ellusionist for it.
Its a marketing gimmick if you ask me, if somethings extreme then people will obviously think its challenging and will seek to try it.

I don't like the term "Extreme Card Manipulation", or "Xtreme" as you said, it simply makes it sound bad or ugly, whereas "Art of Card Manipulation" or something alone those lines gives you the impression of a smooth and immaculate performance.

And thats what card manipulation should be, nothing stupidly fast as that goes into the realms of sloppyness and ruins the whole aesthetics of a flourish.
Being able to perform a flourish smoothly and at a consistent speed is challenging, but should never be considered as extreme.

I pretty sure you would want to advertise yourself as an "Extreme Card Manipulator", it just makes you look ridiculous.

Just Card Manipulation if you ask me.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Extreme Card Manipulation always makes me think of someone doing a riffle shuffle whilst bungee jumping.

You mean that's not how most people you know shuffle cards?

(Being temporarily serious, I've never understood the prevalence of the overhand shuffle. I always riffle-shuffle when I play card games, and I find the overhand shuffle to be more difficult yet inexplicably popular.)

Siege writes, in part: ". . .10 or so years back, I could count the new magic releases each *YEAR* on the back of a postage stamp. "

And "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Just change the number of years and that statement could have been made every decade for the past two hundred years, probably.

About 50 years ago, I remember an article in a magic magazine that decried the "flood" of books and pointed out that, a few years earlier, a new book was a great occasion that was discussed and debated by other magicians long before it appeared.

So "le plus ca change, le plus ca la meme!"

The way it's spelt X-Treme, rather than extreme, means it's aimed at the skate-dude generation that put awful grunge music over their youtube videos.

Although it take some skill and a lot of practice to do these things, they are not that impressive to a layman as it consitutes showing off rather than some personal involvement and connection with the audience. Practised by people with too much time on their hands and a webcam in the main.

Talking of which, it does annoy me how many people that call themselves 'magicians' have never performed for anyone other than their mum and dad and schoolfriends spout about magic and dealing with spectators on forums such as these when they have no experience whatsoever.
I consider the magic items I have to be useful props to use in my shows and for audiences rather than 'kewl' toys i can show off on a youtube video.

XCM to me symbolises the state of magic at the moment, obnoxious kids who are saying "I can do something you can't..na..na!..that'll show the bullies!" rather than people who want to learn a craft so they can entertain people, it all about THEM.

It's amazing how they can comment on subjects raised by people who have actually performed in front of strangers and got paid for it as if they are some kind of authority. The next minute they start a thread bawling that they did some 'tricks' in the playground and they droppped their cards and everyone laughed.

Tsch!