{"product_id":"stepladders-demon-traps-by-nicolaj-christensen","title":"Stepladders \u0026 Demon Traps by Nicolaj Christensen","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStepladders \u0026amp; Demon Traps\u003c\/i\u003e makes you a thoughtful, confident creator of your own magic.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"This is the best thing I've read this year.\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Mark Elsdon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy do magicians ask people to say \"stop\" instead of \"freeze\" or \"hold it\"? Why do they pretend to fail a trick? Why does a routine include a magic effect at all?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStepladders \u0026amp; Demon Traps\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e advocates purpose in the creation of a magic routine. Countless choices are always made but not always consciously, so Nicolaj Christensen reminds us to identify a creative vision and actively explore and cherry-pick the most fitting ideas. In a nutshell, form follows function.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTeaching seven routines (close-up and stand-up, with and without playing cards), Nicolaj provides a case study of various choices he has made to fit the elements of each routine to its vision, trying to support what's at the center of each premise and clean out the clutter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFive essays speak more generally about a deliberate creative process:\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA summary of the routines as part of a larger vision.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA reminder that changes cannot be made in isolation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA deconstruction of brainstorming as an analytical tool.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA helpful distinction between theme and premise.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA discussion of the kinds of subject matter that come with the territory of a magician. Nicolaj suggests that if a magic trick doesn't take into account the layers of meaning inherent to magic-as-magic, the work might be fundamentally out of touch with itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003eIf you're the analytical type, you'll enjoy the message of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStepladders \u0026amp; Demon Traps\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. But if you mostly go by instinct, you'll love it even more for giving you new tools to create with.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e218 pages, 57 hand-drawn illustrations","brand":"Murphy's Magic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50861056426290,"sku":"STEPLADDERS","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0956\/5418\/files\/79964-full.png?v=1775444570","url":"https:\/\/shop.52kards.com\/products\/stepladders-demon-traps-by-nicolaj-christensen","provider":"52Kards","version":"1.0","type":"link"}