I am working on Master's Degree in Journalism and Media. For my thesis, I am considering doing a paper on how film, video and new media have affected how people view magic. Any ideas?

Hey magictvlv1,

I'm on my 10th year as a regular guest entertainer/magician on a local morning news show. Thankfully our ratings have always been either number one or two in our market, which is how I have managed to stay on for so long. In this short period of time I have seen huge changes in how and when people get their news and entertainment. Tivo has made it possible to get their local news whenever they want. Not only are the shows broadcast live, but they are now posted immediately to the web, permanently. For example, here is a link to a show I did this morning. I show up about 6 minutes into this 9 minute clip http://www.todaysthv.com/video/default.a......74988001 . If you have a bad show or a good one it will always be there and anyone can post it immediately to their facebook or twitter account. Within seconds, people around the world can see your performance. They probably won't, but they can. You now also have live streaming video on the web at the same time as the live broadcast is going on so anyone, anywhere in the world at any time can see you. That would have been impossible 10 years ago.

I havn't even touched on what a viral You Tube video can do for a person but I can't tell you the number of times I have watched the David Blain spoofs. I think they are more entertaining than the real thing.

Anyway, there is a little food for thought. Hope it helps. Good luck on your thesis.

Sincerely,

Derrick Rose

As I am sure you know, one of the best ways to get a glimpse of the future is to look at the past. It might be interesting to look back to the public's first exposure to media and how affected their view of magic then and now. Start with early printed media (movable type, etc.) and move forward to examine what happened to the art of magic as each "new media" came around.

You might find many similarities with the current trends and this might apply to your final hypothesis. Every generation of magicians have had to adapt to the latest new media, whether it is printed books, radio, film, TV, and most recently Internet. Take a look at what other magicians in the past have done and how the public reacted to the magic after the change. See if any of these historical references might help future magicians adapt to the current media.

Just a suggestion! As a TV producer and magic historian, I would find this thesis extremely interesting. Good luck!

Hi guys,

watch out for the new internet connected tv's due to be released this year.

these will change the entire distribution/advertising/delivery mix. this will mean channel owners can use the internet properly as a delivery platform rivalling the big networks.

check out samsungs new internet connectable tv offering here:

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/learn......ion.html

stand by for another revolution!

regards,
geoff.

Hi,

check out the channel offering here:

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/learn......ion.html

trust me, get set for big changes - even bigger than youtube. all major tv makers (sony/samsung/lg, etc) are gearing up now to have their own distribution.

regards,
geoff.

I'd love to read this thesis!!

You could always discuss exposure and how sites like youtube have effected keeping magic underground and methods away from layman. I'm sure there are people who search the internet to find methods after seeing a magician perform. There will be lots of people with lots of different opinions on it, just post a up in general magic and you'll see how strongly people feel about it. The masked magician claimed to have exposed some magic to encourage magicians to come up with new material to help drive magic forward, he would be a great place to start and very, let's say interesting to interview. Good luck,

I just wanted to mention that the origin of motion pictures has a connection with magic and magicians. Georges Méliès was a stage magician before becoming a pioneering filmmaker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_M%C3%A9li%C3%A8s

Sounds like an interesting paper. I'd like to read it when you are finished too!

GFDIAMOND is so right .... the major distributors and producers are preparing to handle all aspects of their programming. This offers wonderful opportunities for the young magicians *and others* who understand what opportunities are in their future. Street magic can be filmed and instantly seen around the world. What fun. A young magician with broadcast knowledge and a good home camera could interview the older more experienced magicians. This would make for a great visual thesis. It sounds very exciting. But as GFDiamond said, more changes are quickly coming. As a matter of fact, book publishers will soon be in for problems as more and more authors will submit their books in a format that goes right to millions of electronic books -- bypassing current publishers and bookstore chains. Look what's happening to Borders and others. Good luck, let us know how you are doing.