STS 121b/History 301Q

Deception: Perspectives from Science, Technology and Art

Week 2: MAGIC

Assignment for April 10 (P. Diaconis)

The purpose of this assignment is to introduce students to magic as tricks/deception through its definitions, history and performance.

Please read P. Diaconis article on magic from Encyclopedia of Philosophy, R. Scott (1584) The Discoverie of Witchcraft, Chapter 13.

The latter is the earliest description of magic tricks in the English language. The magic tricks begin on p. 262.

Further, go to the library or a bookstore, find a book about magic tricks which describes one of the tricks also described by Scott (there is not much new under the sun) work out your own way of presenting - performing the trick, and be prepared to do a short performance in class (5 minutes say).

Reasonable popular magic books are the Klutz book of magic or Magic for Dummies; our library will have books by Bruce Elliott, such as Professional Magic made easy, Classic secrets of Magic, Magic as a hobby, and many others, as will any local public library. Other readable popular books by Bill Severn or Jean Hugard will do as well. You may find a book written for youngsters more useful in detailing the actual steps needed for performance than a more sophisticated text.