David Copperfield is widely regarded as one of the greatest magicians in history. Born as David Seth Kotkin in 1956, he adopted the stage name David Copperfield as a tribute to the iconic Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. Copperfield's interest in magic began at a young age when he received a magic set as a gift. He quickly became fascinated by the art form and started practicing his tricks diligently. His dedication and talent soon paid off when he started performing magic shows at the age of 12. At the age of 16, Copperfield began teaching a course on magic at New York University.
H. conica‘s tendency to stain black makes it easy to separate it out from most species.
In his book, Jensen describes how the 1215 Fourth Council of the Lateran required all Jews to identify themselves by wearing the Judenhat Jewish hat or horned skullcap. Medieval representations tying Jews to Satan were nothing new, and by the late 13 th century, Jewish attributes had soaked up enough ugly significance to tar all unbelievers, hypocrites, heretics, pagans, and demons, Jensen writes.
At the age of 16, Copperfield began teaching a course on magic at New York University. This experience not only honed his skills but also showcased his natural ability to entertain and captivate audiences. Copperfield's performances often included a mix of grand illusions, storytelling, and audience participation, creating a unique and unforgettable experience for spectators.
The Witches Hat
Samhain Greetings to you all! Today we have the second instalment of Nell's wonderful blog series.
The Witches Hat.
Those of you who did not grow up in Blighty, or who were born after the death of Elvis may not recognise this picture.
It is a Witches Hat, one of the scariest, most exciting, and deathly dangerous of all the many forms of playground equipment which were banned in the course of the 1980’s. This was a period during which the realisation slowly dawned that small children, high velocities and concrete surfaces were not such a good mix. Needless to say, you couldn’t get me off the things. I fell off repeatedly, I also threw myself off, as I did with swings, slides, those manic roundabout things, even the tandem rocking horse. This sort of thing was considered as a mark of valour and a character-building challenge to which one could only rise with honour or sink with shame in the playgrounds of the early Thatcher years. I draw attention to the Witches Hat to illustrate just how ingrained this symbolic shape is. The playground equipment was actually patented as ‘The Ocean Wave’ when it was invented in the early Twentieth Century, but even the campaign to have it re-instituted refers to it as ‘The Witches Hat’. The real ‘Witches’ Hat is a bit of a contentious issue. Its important to bear in mind that even the things we think of as iconic and immoveable are innovations, the Green Skinned Wicked Witch of the West was a victim of technological change just as much as Dorothy’s Slippers: changed from Silver to Ruby, which just looked so much better in Glorious Technicolour. The real or imagined antiquity of a tradition has a bizarre moral force. Things aren’t really hallowed by time, if they were then slavery, domestic violence and stoning would all be considered sacred. In fact all three have been supported by arguments of ‘time immemorial’, Biblical Authority and indeed legal precedent. Rather than recycle claims about pointy hats and ancient magical practices, in this post I’d like to briefly examine the how the symbolic importance of the Hat evolved in print.
In discussing the symbolic value of the Witches Hat there is no better place to start than with a quote concerning one of my favourite Witches, Terry Pratchett’s Granny Weatherwax, from her apprentice Esk: ‘It’s a Witches hat because you wear it. But you’re a Witch because you wear the hat’. Granny, whose combination of headology and herbology makes her a woman after my own heart, invests heavily in her costume. Looking the part is essential to the ‘Headology’, which lends efficacy to her Craft. Another of Pratchett’s Witches the ancient Eumenides Treason orders fancy dress accoutrements and interior decor from the Boffo Novelty and Joke Emporium. Her apprentice adopts the name ‘Boffo’ as the term for ‘putting on a show’. Like Granny, Mother Treason employs Boffo to inspire the appropriate respect for herself and her Witchery and to activate the powers of both expectation and suggestion, all essential aspects of Headology. Granny wears her Hat in public, not in the forest. She wears it to be seen, this is real power dressing, albeit without the big hair and shoulder pads.
The point is, if you’ll pardon the pun, Hats are extremely visible, some of them quite literally eyecatching, especially tall pointy ones, which lends a great deal of power to their symbolic use, and their role as easily identified marks of status. In the era of Westerns the Black Hat and White Hat of the Cowboys performed this function, a trope which has now crossed over to differentiate different types of computer Hackers. The status which a Hat marks can vary however. The alleged Heretics prosecuted by the Spanish Inquistion were made to wear paper Capirotes, at the highly public ceremonies, the ‘Auto de Fe’, which sealed their fate. Red hats were worn by those sentenced to death, whereas penitents and other criminals wore Hats of different colours. In an interesting twist, Silk versions of these are still worn by the Penitent Orders in Catholic Countries.
As in this picture, different colour denote different Penitential organizations.
Throughout his career, Copperfield has achieved numerous groundbreaking feats in the world of magic. He has made iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China disappear, walked through the Great Wall, and even levitated over the Grand Canyon. These awe-inspiring illusions have solidified his status as a master magician. Aside from his live performances, Copperfield has also made several television specials that have gained widespread acclaim. His annual television specials, such as "The Magic of David Copperfield," became highly anticipated events, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. In addition to his magical talents, Copperfield is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He owns a private island in the Bahamas, which he uses as a retreat and magical research facility. Copperfield has also been actively involved in charitable efforts, including AIDS research and disaster relief projects. David Copperfield's contributions to the art of magic cannot be overstated. His innovative illusions, engaging performances, and overall showmanship have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. As a trailblazer in the field of magic, Copperfield continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the globe with his extraordinary talent..
Reviews for "The Magic Touch: David Copperfield and His Iconic Tricks"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "David Copperfield: History of Magic". Firstly, the book promised to be an exciting exploration of magic throughout history, but it ended up being a haphazard collection of random anecdotes and personal experiences of the author. The book lacked structure and coherence, making it difficult to follow the timeline of magic's evolution. Furthermore, Copperfield's writing style came across as self-indulgent and overly dramatic. Overall, I found the book to be a jumbled mess that did not deliver on its promise of providing a comprehensive history of magic.
2. Sarah - 1 star
As a fan of magic and its history, I was excited to read "David Copperfield: History of Magic". Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. Copperfield's narrative style was tedious and self-absorbed, often overshadowing the actual history he intended to cover. Additionally, the book lacked depth and critical analysis, merely skimming the surface of important magical figures and events. I found myself bored and unengaged throughout most of the book, and ended up abandoning it halfway through. I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-researched and engaging exploration of magic's history.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"David Copperfield: History of Magic" failed to captivate me as a reader. The book lacked a clear direction, meandering from one topic to another without a cohesive thread. Copperfield's writing style felt disjointed and self-centered, leaving little room for the actual history of magic to shine through. I expected a comprehensive analysis of the subject, but instead found myself reading about the author's personal experiences and encounters with famous magicians. While some readers may appreciate the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, I was left wanting a more scholarly and in-depth approach to the topic.