Can Magic DVD's Stand the Test of Time?

[towcheeze]

There are all sorts of books like Royal Road, Bobos Coin Magic, Tarbell, and Expert at the Card Table that have remained popular for decades. Many books in my magic library like these are older than my parents, but it seems that the majority of magic DVDs available are already collecting dust. How can this be? Some of the text in books are outdated, dvds are easier to learn from, and yet somehow books have stood the test of time for decades.

Does anyone believe that there are any magic instructional DVDs or tricks are destined to stand the test of time like these books, and remain classics throughout the ages? In 30-50 years, will they still be in the brick and mortar magic shops next to classics, like the linking rings, or the thumb tip?

Similarly, which recent magic books do you think will someday be in the same breath as already timeless books by Dai Vernon, or Hugard and Braue? Which books will remain must haves (40 years later), like Tarbell or Expert at the Card Table?

-towcheeze

 

[vipermagic]

"Strong Magic" and "Designing Miracles" both by Darwin Ortiz. I don't have them just yet but I think the "Books of Wonder" are considered modern classics.

As for DVDs I can say that, personally, Michael Ammar's "Easy to Master Card Miracles" will always have a place on my shelf as they got me started on this magic journey.

 

[ReservoirRed]

I think the good ones will. Steve forte's gambling protection series is standing the test well, even though it transitioned from video to dvd. I think if you realise how many books there are on magic, the bad ones can be compared to the horrible dvds that are coming out. Stuff like "magic mickey's 10 greatest tricks of all time", there are thousands upon thousands of these books in book stores around the world, and they're not all aimed at kids. Those books sink without a trace in the magic community, but books like the card college series are valued. In 20 years time i think, for example, Genesis vol 1 and 2 will be valued on shelves, while other dvd's will sink.
As a side note, i wonder what the first magic blue ray will be.

 

[RickLax]

It's a really good questions. There's been so much movement from full length DVD sales to individual trick sales. My guess is, 30 years from now, the best DVDs (like the Ammar tapes) will still be around (in digital form), but only us old guys will be talking about them. I mean, we'll be old 30 years from now. We're for sure dynamic/vibrant now.

 

[RickEverhart]

If you stop and think about it, I think media in general will be around but the question is, what format will it be in within the next 30-50 years? As a young boy who thought a walkman tape player radio was awesome....I would have never dreamed of the ipad / ipod that I would have 25 years later. Just food for thought.

Who knows...maybe someone will create some pad that shoots a hologram type image almost like Star Wars, that demonstrates the media / magic effect, 3 D right in your lap or on your desk.

I know I dodged the question so to speak but that is the first thing that popped into my mind.

 

[ReservoirRed]

If you stop and think about it, I think media in general will be around but the question is, what format will it be in within the next 30-50 years? As a young boy who thought a walkman tape player radio was awesome....I would have never dreamed of the ipad / ipod that I would have 25 years later. Just food for thought.

Who knows...maybe someone will create some pad that shoots a hologram type image almost like Star Wars, that demonstrates the media / magic effect, 3 D right in your lap or on your desk.

I know I dodged the question so to speak but that is the first thing that popped into my mind.

With 3-D tv's being designed, and even the nintendo 3DS, 3-D learning isn't a crazy notion at all. It's quite possible the technology will be there within our lifetime.

 

[CaseyRudd]

Well with the question asking if they CAN, of course they can. It's just a matter of which DVDs can receive the same recognition that today's modern classics have. It is a tough decision to make on which DVDs I think have "stood the test of time" already, but we will definitely know within the next 20 years. A very interesting thread topic. Thanks towcheeze!

 

[NlightN]

Reason books stands the test of time is because they are books. It's all written and writing never gets old.

The quality of a DVD gets old. If you think about the DVDs like a movie. If you watch a movie from the 50s you will laugh at the special effects and the picture quality and everything is just awful compared to now.
With magic DVDs(or digital downloads) the most important part is the info it gives and how good the teaching is. But seriously I own Gregory Wilson's Double Take DVD and it looks like an 80s porn movie. I don't know when the original video was made and maybe that was the whole point? Anyway it's really awful and I would really want an updated version for sure. But really for me it isn't that much of a big deal since I'm almost old enough to remember low quality video, 80s clothing and all that. But 20 years from now? If you were born today and 20 years from now you bought a copy of Gregory Wilson's Double Take you would cringe on how bad the quality is and how much of an 80s porn movie it looks like(even if that's the point). Doesn't matter how good his teaching is in it. You would most likely prefer a newer video where everyone wears present time clothing and super good video quality and maybe even holographic.

 

[CaseyRudd]

NlightN,

Excellent point. I agree with you on that post.

Like what he was talking about, the quality of the information in books doesn't change (unless there is a revised reprint). 100 years from now, the ability to learn from books will stay the same like it is today. Video quality does change over the course of several years, so that is something to consider as well. We have been spoiled with the power of HD and high quality video. The second we look at a VHS tape or a DVD filmed with a non-HD camera most of us cringe at the quality and wish it was HD. In my personal opinion, books will always stand the test of time. Videos, on the other hand, that will be a tough battle.

 

[ChrisWiens]

I think the concepts in the well-known magic theory books will probably be as usable in hundred years as today, whereas a 'move' or 'effect' will probably get old.
Let`s be honest, DVDs are almost never about magic theory, because a book is the better medium to transport this kind of information.
Books are also independent from a setting. A DVD always shows the Zeitgeist one way or another.

 

[RealityOne]

Who knows...maybe someone will create some pad that shoots a hologram type image almost like Star Wars, that demonstrates the media / magic effect, 3 D right in your lap or on your desk.

You're not thinking big enough. The effect will be downloaded into a device that will automatically cause your muscles to act in a way that provides the perfect sleight of hand. After a week, you will have established sufficient muscle memory to flawlessly perform the most difficult sleights without a problem.

I have to agree about the production quality of DVDs. Some really good videos like On the Pass and Spongeball Toolkit are already dated. Heck, even things done 10 years ago look dated.

As for books, the ones that will become classics are those that combine effects with theory OR those that cover so much material on a given subject to be considered an Encyclopedia on that subject.