I apologize for the length in advance.
I've thought over what a purist may or may not be. Knowing every magician is different, it's hard to define something without generalizing [which something everyone should stray away from.]
I'd like to start with a definition and since there is no dictionary of magical terms I looked up the laymen definition.
Purist (purism) n.
1. strict observance of or insistence on purity in language, style, (insert:magic), etc.
2. an instance of this.
3. (often initial capital letter) Fine Arts. a style of art developed in France in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of simple geometric forms and images evocative of objects produced by machine.
Since one and two are combined we'll treat them as one.
I found this definition of purity to help define number 1.
Purity:
"the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc"
This, from what I see, could break the first definition of purist into two directions.
A)Pure in a sense of no gimmicks, sleight of hand only-normal cards, coins etc..
B)Pure in a sense of nothing getting in the way of the magic.
Since A has been defined multiple times, let us explore B.
I tend to think this second definition is best described by the movie 'The Prestige'
Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige"."
Three main parts: Pledge, Turn, Prestige.
A purist focuses on these three things. There may be an extra flourish here or a gimmick there, but you walk up to someone who you've never met, take their cards, they pick one-it vanishes and reappears in their pocket or with the help of some fancy color change.
It's when a magician starts doing something unnecessary within a trick that makes it impure.(whether it be patter that doesn't fit or something illogical-i.e. making a deck of cards turn into a rabbit [thanks d+m])
(also)
A magician who loses their passion for magic, the progression, or for the art also loses what makes magic pure. {Doing magic for anything less than a love for the craft, ie: money, fame, popularity..etc}
Now I know a lot of people will misinterpret what I just said and say that anyone who sells their secrets is a sellout magician and no longer a purist. And if you think that's what I just said, then you're ignorance can be corrected by someone else, or you can PM me personally to discuss it.
Back on topic:::
Summary: A purist is either someone who has chosen(for debatable reasons) to use very little, if any, props or gimmicks and rely on sleight of hand, personality, and audience management to accomplish effects.
or
Someone who approaches magic with a pure mind. Someone who loves what he/she does. When creating an effect they approach it with conviction and an attitude to progress the art we all love and to entertain their spectators.
Onwards and Upwards(downwards?...) to the next definition.
(Quick Memory Refresh)
3. (often initial capital letter) Fine Arts. a style of art developed in France in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of simple geometric forms and images evocative of objects produced by machine.
Okay. The first words out of parenthesis : Fine Arts.
I don't know what is considered Fine Art, nor do I know what fine arts majors study...I'd like to think they would study the psychology or philosophy behind why we, as humans, are attracted to aesthetic beings or objects. Maybe they just learn dates and names of artists and facts about their lives...what a waste of education...you could learn these on your own while studying something else...
I do, however, think that magic can be art.
(and now back to the definition)
The key word in the long sentence is...?
Simple.
Something pure is something simple.
Teller's effect 'Shadows' is one of the most simple effects I have ever seen, in terms of what is going on, and yet it is one of the most beautiful effects I've ever seen. It makes me wonder why anyone would do complicated looking stage effects if something like this can create the same sense of awe from an audience.
Simple.
Why perform a knuckle busting sleight when you could have done an easier one on the offbeat?
Why do a twelve packet display when a ten packet looks just as good?
Laymen are just as impressed with a well performed Classic Color change as they are an Ego or Hurricane change. You just changed one card into another, not just any other...the one they selected at random...
Now sometimes it's easier to perform a 'more visual' card change, but when done correctly(accompanied with a great performance) any switch will get a big reaction.
I don't do a ton of flourishing, practice for dexterity and fluidity more than anything, so I don't have the same mentality as someone who does it as their main attraction(so to speak), so maybe someone (a t11 artist?) could give insight into what it takes to get reactions from such a foreign concept(foreign to laymen).
Final Thoughts:
I have none. I think I left it all above. I guess I would just like to tell people to never stop thinking...never stop questioning.
Thank you for reading all the way through. Disagreements are welcomed just as much as praise. Feel free to quote me.
The quote in mine is rights of whoever owns them, not me.
Thanks again,
Rik.
PS. After reviewing my post I am still not sure what a purist
should be.
