Mentalism

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Mentalism is an ancient performing art in which the practitioner uses mental acuity, principles of stage magic and/or suggestion to present the demonstration or illusion of mind reading, psychokinesis, precognition, clairvoyance or mind control. One of the earliest recorded performances of a mentalism act was by diplomat and pioneering sleight-of-hand magician Girolamo Scotto in 1572.

Mentalism is generally considered to be a branch of Stage Magic, or cabaret magic, featuring many of the same basic tools, principles, sleights and skills in its performance. Styles of presentation vary greatly. A few performers, following Uri Geller, are said to use these techniques to present the illusion that they actually possess supernatural powers such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, or telekinesis. In the trade, this is known as "working strong."

There remain some people who believe that Geller and similar practitioners are actually demonstrating supernatural powers. However, this belief is forcefully disputed by scientists and skeptics.

As "supernatural" explanations fall from favour, many contemporary performers, including Richard Osterlind, Banachek and Derren Brown choose to attribute their results to other skills: the ability to read body language or to manipulate the subject subliminally through psychological suggestion, for example. In the trade, this is known as "working clean." Mentalists generally do not mix "standard" magic tricks with their mental feats, as doing so would also reduce the apparent mentalism to mere trickery in the eyes of the spectator. Sometimes mentalists claim not to be magicians at all, although the mechanics of mental and magical performances are essentially identical.

On the other hand, magicians such as David Copperfield routinely mix mentalism feats with their magical illusions. Some effects tend to blend themes from mentalism and magic. For example, a mind-reading stunt might also involve the magical transposition of two different objects. Such hybrid feats are usually classified as "mental magic" by performers.

Mentalism and mental magic require performers to display an authoritative, commanding and charismatic stage presence.

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