![]() ![]() We would give them a recording, or take them to a concert. If that same child or adult expresses an interest in a style of music, or a particular artist or band, we would not immediately turn around and hand them a book of sheet music or a musical instrument. The magician Garrett Thomas (whom I featured in Take Two #15) commented in an interview on the Magical Thinking podcast, hosted by Elliott Terral, that when a child, or anyone for that matter, expresses an initial interest in magic, the response from those around them, supportive parents or friends, is typically to buy them a magic trick. Regardless if such an audience ever began to follow the series, with that idea in mind I have tried to write these essays as free of jargon as possible, explaining the occasional jargon term when appropriate or necessary to invoke it, and avoiding any technical explanations of methods. And while I realize that the majority of the audience will likely be comprised of magicians, along with magic fans, in the back of my mind I also had a vision, imagining that I was writing these pieces for non-magicians-"laymen," as we magicians often term them-who might not possess any knowledge of magic, nor in fact perhaps even much of any prior interest. It is intended as a guide to the art, to its many aspects and elements, technical and aesthetic, as well as to its history. Take Two was conceived as a project of art appreciation and video curation, each week posting two or more videos of performance magic, accompanied by an essay that examines the particular form, style, individual performer, or even, specific illusion. But we rarely if ever come upon insightful looks at variety arts in general, and magic in particular. We are accustomed to reading and studying art appreciation, in school and in the world at large, about many art forms, including music, theater, painting, cinema, dance, and many more, static or performing arts alike. I see Take Two as an exercise in art appreciation. But recently I have been increasingly discovering some concrete support of my original concept, so perhaps it’s time for me to acknowledge my intentions. When I conceived of and began writing Take Two last October, I did not present an explicit mission statement for the project. But first, a prologue: A belated Mission Statement
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