Equivocation (magic)
Encyclopedia
Equivocation is a technique by which a magician
appears to have intended a particular outcome, when in actuality the outcome is one of several alternative outcomes.
to apparently offer a subject a free or random choice
of card, when in fact the magician knows in advance exactly which card will be chosen. This can then be revealed later in the trick.
A large variety of card forces exist. Most are based on sleight of hand
.
Many tricks using card forces are amongst the simplest tricks to perform, and the classic card trick
of the magician divining which card a participant has selected is approaching hackneyed status. It is perhaps for this reason that card forces are among the tricks most frequently exposed
by professional magicians. For example Penn and Teller
have exposed several on television, and Paul Daniels
included explanations of a large range of forces - including ones that he continued to use in TV and stage performances - in a children's card magic set published in the 1980s.
In a simple example, the performer may deal two cards face down onto the table, requiring for the purposes of his trick that the card on the right be selected. He will ask the spectator to choose one of the cards. If the spectator chooses the card on the left, the performer will say something like "you keep this card, I'll take the remaining card." If the spectator chooses the card on the right, the performer might say "okay, let's use the card you chose." Thus, the choice of which card to use is really made by the magician, hence the term "Magician's Choice."
Suppose, for example, the performer requires that a spectator select a particular one of three objects (say, the middle card in a row of three). To ensure this result, while giving the appearance of choice, the performer first asks the spectator to select two cards. If the spectator selects the left and the right card, the magician may continue by saying "Okay, we'll remove your selections, leaving us with the middle card." If the spectator selects the middle card and another indifferent card, the magician may continue by saying "... and now give me one of the cards...." If the spectator hands over the middle card, the magician may conclude, "... which we'll use," and if the spectator hands over the indifferent card, the magician may conclude "... which we'll get rid of." In each case, the middle card is apparently selected. By keeping his instructions ambiguous until after a choice is made, the magician retains full control over the apparently free selection.
These basic techniques can be expanded to include practically any number of items, such as an entire deck of cards. For larger sets, items may first be grouped, then split up. The magician must quickly and carefully craft his patter
to convey the impression that the actions he takes with the items truly reflect the intent of the spectator.
as follows. The magician prepares an envelope by writing "A" on one side, "B" inside the flap, and including a card inside the envelope bearing the letter "C." When engaging a spectator, the magician may begin by saying something to the effect of, "I am about to give you a free choice
, but I have prepared a prediction
as to what your choice will be." The magician then produces the envelope, concealing the letter "A" from the spectator, and places it in view—for example, on a table. The magician continues, "Please select a letter: A, B, or C." If the spectator selects "A," the magician turns over the envelope. If the spectator selects "B," the magician opens the flap, revealing the prediction. If the spectator selects "C," the magician removes the card from the envelope (taking care not to reveal either the "A" or the "B" on the envelope).
" between what the spectator actually knows and what the spectator thinks he knows. In the magician's force the spectator does not know anything about what will happen to the two cards he initially selects. However, the spectator thinks that he is merely making a free choice in an otherwise scripted sequence of moves. In the effect of the pre-prepared envelope, the spectator thinks he knows that the envelope involves a prediction, but he does not actually know that the envelope in fact involves three predictions.
Equivocation tends to lose its effectiveness if repeated in the same context, since the spectator gains more information from one performance
to the next, thereby shrinking this information gap. For example, a spectator may wonder why the prediction was on the face of the envelope in one performance, but the prediction was on a card inside the envelope on a second performance.
Equivocation can be employed more generally. For example, if the magician intends to perform a trick requiring a spectator to select a forced card, but for one reason or another the spectator does not pick the card that the magician attempted to force, the magician may simply perform another trick that does not require the selection of the forced card.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
appears to have intended a particular outcome, when in actuality the outcome is one of several alternative outcomes.
Card force
A card force is one of any number of methods used in close-up magicMagic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
to apparently offer a subject a free or random choice
Choice
Choice consists of the mental process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them. While a choice can be made between imagined options , often a choice is made between real options, and followed by the corresponding action...
of card, when in fact the magician knows in advance exactly which card will be chosen. This can then be revealed later in the trick.
A large variety of card forces exist. Most are based on sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
.
Many tricks using card forces are amongst the simplest tricks to perform, and the classic card trick
Card manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
of the magician divining which card a participant has selected is approaching hackneyed status. It is perhaps for this reason that card forces are among the tricks most frequently exposed
Exposure (magic)
Exposure in magic refers to the practice of revealing the secrets of how magic tricks are performed.The practice is generally frowned upon as a type of spoiler that ruins the experience of magical performances for audiences.-Background:...
by professional magicians. For example Penn and Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
have exposed several on television, and Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
included explanations of a large range of forces - including ones that he continued to use in TV and stage performances - in a children's card magic set published in the 1980s.
Magician's Choice
In a typical example of the Magician's Choice, the magician will ask a spectator to make an apparently free choice among several items. No matter what choices the spectator makes, the magician ends up with the item which he wanted the spectator to choose.In a simple example, the performer may deal two cards face down onto the table, requiring for the purposes of his trick that the card on the right be selected. He will ask the spectator to choose one of the cards. If the spectator chooses the card on the left, the performer will say something like "you keep this card, I'll take the remaining card." If the spectator chooses the card on the right, the performer might say "okay, let's use the card you chose." Thus, the choice of which card to use is really made by the magician, hence the term "Magician's Choice."
Suppose, for example, the performer requires that a spectator select a particular one of three objects (say, the middle card in a row of three). To ensure this result, while giving the appearance of choice, the performer first asks the spectator to select two cards. If the spectator selects the left and the right card, the magician may continue by saying "Okay, we'll remove your selections, leaving us with the middle card." If the spectator selects the middle card and another indifferent card, the magician may continue by saying "... and now give me one of the cards...." If the spectator hands over the middle card, the magician may conclude, "... which we'll use," and if the spectator hands over the indifferent card, the magician may conclude "... which we'll get rid of." In each case, the middle card is apparently selected. By keeping his instructions ambiguous until after a choice is made, the magician retains full control over the apparently free selection.
These basic techniques can be expanded to include practically any number of items, such as an entire deck of cards. For larger sets, items may first be grouped, then split up. The magician must quickly and carefully craft his patter
Patter
Patter is a prepared and practiced speech, that is designed to produce a desired response from its audience. Examples of occupations with a patter might include the: auctioneer, salesperson, dance caller, or comedian....
to convey the impression that the actions he takes with the items truly reflect the intent of the spectator.
Mentalism
In another use, a magician may perform an apparent act of mind readingMentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
as follows. The magician prepares an envelope by writing "A" on one side, "B" inside the flap, and including a card inside the envelope bearing the letter "C." When engaging a spectator, the magician may begin by saying something to the effect of, "I am about to give you a free choice
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
, but I have prepared a prediction
Prediction
A prediction or forecast is a statement about the way things will happen in the future, often but not always based on experience or knowledge...
as to what your choice will be." The magician then produces the envelope, concealing the letter "A" from the spectator, and places it in view—for example, on a table. The magician continues, "Please select a letter: A, B, or C." If the spectator selects "A," the magician turns over the envelope. If the spectator selects "B," the magician opens the flap, revealing the prediction. If the spectator selects "C," the magician removes the card from the envelope (taking care not to reveal either the "A" or the "B" on the envelope).
Effectiveness
In each of these examples, the effectiveness of the equivocation involves the "information gapInfo-gap decision theory
Info-gap decision theory is a non-probabilistic decision theory that seeks to optimize robustness to failure – or opportuneness for windfall – under severe uncertainty, in particular applying sensitivity analysis of the stability radius type to perturbations in the value of a given estimate of the...
" between what the spectator actually knows and what the spectator thinks he knows. In the magician's force the spectator does not know anything about what will happen to the two cards he initially selects. However, the spectator thinks that he is merely making a free choice in an otherwise scripted sequence of moves. In the effect of the pre-prepared envelope, the spectator thinks he knows that the envelope involves a prediction, but he does not actually know that the envelope in fact involves three predictions.
Equivocation tends to lose its effectiveness if repeated in the same context, since the spectator gains more information from one performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
to the next, thereby shrinking this information gap. For example, a spectator may wonder why the prediction was on the face of the envelope in one performance, but the prediction was on a card inside the envelope on a second performance.
Equivocation can be employed more generally. For example, if the magician intends to perform a trick requiring a spectator to select a forced card, but for one reason or another the spectator does not pick the card that the magician attempted to force, the magician may simply perform another trick that does not require the selection of the forced card.
External links
- YouTube Video An example of a type of card force called the Slip Cut.