Mentalism

Mentalism is the term generally accepted as encompassing feats of the mind. These include reading, influencing and predicting the thoughts of others. In the case of predicting - or precognition - mentalists have been known to extend this beyond the choices of others to events in the wider world. Another aspect of mentalism is Psychokinesis which involves affecting inanimate objects with the mind. Examples of this include making objects move without touching them and bending metal such as keys and spoons.

Mentalists differ from magicians in that they typically present their demonstrations as legitimate. Certainly audiences are often far more open to the idea that they are genuine, due in part to the lack of props employed in performances. Some mentalists make the distinction between mentalism and mental magic, with the former involving few to no props and no magical occurrences. The latter may make use of items such as cards and similar items, with the effects performed having a magical element to them. An example of mental magic is Derren Brown's "Smoke" in which the performer divines the name of a merely thought-of card, which subsequently disappears from the tabled deck and is seen to have taken the place of the cigarette the performer has been smoking, suitably charred...

In recent years mentalism has seen a popularisation, thanks largely to Derren Brown, who debuted on British television in 1999 with his show Mind Control. Proclaiming the use of Psychological techniques such as suggestion and hypnosis this lead many performers to study and adopt a similar approach to their mentalism. It is worth noting, however, that the use of psychology as a presentation is not new.

Resources

Books - Videos

Tony Corinda, 13 Steps to Mentalism;

T. Annemann, Practical Mental Magic;

K. Fulves, Self-Working Mental Magic;

TA Waters, Mind, Myth and Magic;

I. Rowland, The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading;

C. Hickok, Mentalism Incorporated, Volume 1;

C. Hickok, Mentalism Incorporated, Volume 2;

B. Richardson, Theatre of the Mind;

T, Lesley, Paramiracles;

Banachek, Psychololgical Subtleties 1;

Banachek, Psychololgical Subtleties 2;

Banachek, Psychololgical Subtleties 3 (forthcoming);

M. Maven, Prism;

Al Koran, Professional Presentations (Hugh Miller);

L. Jermay, Building Blocks;

D. Brown, Pure Effect;

D. Brown, Absolute Magic;

D. Brown, Tricks of the Mind;

Videos :

Adrian Sullivan - Eliminator V2.0

Alexander De Cova - Enigmatic vol. 1 & 2

andrew normansell - 100% commercial vol. 2 mentalism

anthony billian - MINDBENDER

Dan Harlan - Pack Small Play Big - Mentalism Show

Dave Jones - Seriality

david eldridge - fundamentalism

Derren Brown - Devil's Picturebook Disc 1

Derren Brown - Devil's Picturebook Disc 2

derren brown - inside your mind

derren brown - trick of the mind

derren brown - trick of the mind 2

Doc Shiels - An Evening With Doc Shiels

Docc Hilford - Cassandra Deck

Docc Hilford - Weerdist on Stage

eugene burger - eugene goes bizarre (the chicago tapes)

falkenstein & willard – masters of mental magic - vol. 1-3

Gerard Bakner - Esoteric

James Biss Being Extremely Mental

jay sankey - boris pocus

Jez Roze - You Can Be Mental Too

John Riggs - Gods With Feet of Clay Vol 1 - 4

Joseph Atmore - Dunninger Mentalism Show

Kenton Knepper - Mental Influence With Cards

Larry Becker - Desert Brainstorm Vol. 1-3

Larry Becker - Mental Masterpieces

Larry Becker - Standing Ovation

Larry Becker & Lee Earle - Sunshine Boys

Larry Becker and Lee Earle - Insight Credit Card Wallet

Lee Earle - Syzygy's Best Vol. 1-3

Luke Jermay - Skullduggery

Max Maven - Nothing Vol 1-2

max maven - videominds vol. 1 - 3

Mel Mellers Tickling The Mind Vol.1 -2

Michael Murray - Submodalities The ESP

Morgan Strebler - Liquid Metal

patrick kuffs - mind stunts Vol 1 - 2

Paul Hallas - Mind Stuff Vol. 1 - 2

Pavel - Creative Magic Vol. 3 - Mental Magic

richard osterlind - Challenge magic

Richard Osterlind - Easy to Master Mental Miracles Vol. 1 - 4

richard osterlind - mind mysteries 1 - 7

Richard Osterlind - No Camera Tricks Vol 1 - 4

Stuart Cumberland - Annemann Act Vol. 1 - 3

Stuart Cumberland - Inside Secrets Of Contact Mindreading Revealed Vol. 1 - 2

Ted Lesley - Cabaret Mindreading

The Greater Magic Video Library - Teach In Series: Mentalism