Strong Magic is a book written by Darwin Ortiz that explores the principles and techniques behind creating strong and effective magic performances. Ortiz, who is a renowned magician and magic consultant, shares his insights and experiences from years of performing and studying magic. In Strong Magic, Ortiz emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychology of the audience and the performer. He argues that magic is not just about fooling people, but about creating a meaningful and memorable experience for the spectators. He believes that a strong magic performance should be more than a mere trick; it should tell a story, evoke emotions, and engage the spectators on an intellectual and emotional level. One of the main ideas in Strong Magic is the concept of the Dramatic Arc, which refers to the structure and flow of a magic routine.
It is unclear how many cases Zuley investigated. Rob Warden, who founded Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions, said he had never heard of Zuley. But based on patterns from other Chicago police investigators, he said, the number of people Zuley put in prison likely “runs well into the double digits, perhaps the triple digits”.
And then, in 2013, after Boyd lived half his life in prison, the state of Illinois exonerated him, admitting that he should never have been prosecuted in the first place. It was the result of what Fabio Valentini, the chief of the criminal convictions bureau in Alvarez s office, described as a lengthy re-investigation.
One of the main ideas in Strong Magic is the concept of the Dramatic Arc, which refers to the structure and flow of a magic routine. Ortiz argues that a magic performance should follow a narrative structure, with a beginning, middle, and end. He advises magicians to carefully consider the order of their effects, the pace of the routine, and the overall presentation in order to create a compelling and cohesive performance.
How Chicago police condemned the innocent: a trail of coerced confessions
Exclusive: Before his interrogation tactics got supercharged on detainees in Guantánamo, Richard Zuley extracted confessions from minority Americans in Chicago – at least one leading to a wrongful conviction. Part two of a Guardian investigation finds a trail of dubious murder cases and a city considering the costs
Spencer Ackerman in Chicago Thu 19 Feb 2015 18.33 CET Last modified on Fri 23 Mar 2018 16.40 CETS hackled by his wrist to the wall and by his ankle to the floor, Lathierial Boyd waited for the detective to return to the Chicago police station. In what he considered a sign he had nothing to hide, the 24-year-old Boyd had given the white detective permission to search his swank loft. It would be clear, he thought, that Boyd was no murderer.
Yes, Boyd had sold drugs when he was younger. But he had turned a corner with his life, and the contents of his briefcase, which Boyd had also handed over, could prove where his money came from. His business papers were in order: contracts for his real-estate business, tax documents, the forgettable dealings of a successful man – hardly what a killer might carry. As soon as Detective Richard Zuley came back, Boyd thought, he’d be free.
A quarter-century later, Boyd remembered Zuley’s words when the detective returned from his well-heeled home: “No nigger is supposed to live like this.”
Thanks to the police work of Dick Zuley, whom Boyd describes as “evil”, an innocent man was found guilty of murder. The evidence connecting Boyd to the shooting of two men was non-existent: a suspicious piece of paper, eyewitnesses ruling him out from the scene, evidence ignored.
The detective and the convicted businessman would see each other again: at a 2004 court hearing, Zuley described himself as “on a leave of absence” from the Chicago police department, “assigned to the Joint Task Force at Guantánamo”.
And then, in 2013, after Boyd lived half his life in prison, the state of Illinois exonerated him, admitting that he should never have been prosecuted in the first place.
A Guardian investigation into Zuley’s police record and thousands of court documents – forgotten paperwork from old cases in Chicago, a new civil-rights lawsuit in federal court and the detective’s interrogation work for the US military at Guantánamo Bay – has found that Boyd was far from alone in facing brutality and manipulated justice. If anything, he is alone in going free.
During his 30 years as a detective on Chicago’s north side and his time inside the wartime prison at Guantánamo, Zuley wanted confessions. Whether they were true or not is less definitive.
In conversations with the Guardian from jail, three other people Zuley sent to prison – people who insist upon their innocence – describe being shackled through eyebolts for hours on end to precinct walls, giving Zuley’s police work in Chicago echoes of his interrogation work at Guantánamo. Zuley pursued murder suspects, often poor and black, who were flimsily linked to crime. With Lathierial Boyd, he appears to have hidden disconfirming evidence. With another man, Lee Harris, he turned on his own informant.
Allegations stemming from interviews and court documents suggest a kind of beta test in the ugly history of Chicago police abuse – which has robbed black and poor Americans of their health and freedom and still costs taxpayers millions in civil-rights payouts – for both the worst excesses of torture in the war on terrorism and a trail of convictions based on dubious confessions born of brutality.
It is unclear how many cases Zuley investigated. Rob Warden, who founded Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions, said he had never heard of Zuley. But based on patterns from other Chicago police investigators, he said, the number of people Zuley put in prison likely “runs well into the double digits, perhaps the triple digits”.
Chicago police have yet to fulfill a freedom-of-information request on Zuley’s personnel file, and detailed lists of questions from the Guardian to Zuley’s attorney and a Chicago police department spokesperson went unresponded. Zuley, through a spokeswoman at his current job at the Chicago department of aviation, declined to participate in this and stories published by the Guardian on Wednesday, despite repeated attempts.
Yet greater transparency may be on the horizon. The Cook County state’s attorney’s convictions-integrity unit is now examining another case involving Zuley, and is seeking his complaint file from a Chicago police-review board.
Zuley may be unique, Warden said, in being a police officer who “graduated from Chicago to Guantánamo”. As a top Guantánamo torture investigator, retired Army major general Mark Furlow, told the Guardian: “Zuley was one of those individuals in such a unique situation that our processes, system of checks and balances at that time were unable to provide clear guidance.”
But Chicago has a longstanding history of police abuse, much of it racialized.
“There have been a number of really bad apples in the Chicago police department who unquestionably have railroaded unknown numbers of innocent people into prison,” Warden said.
Another key idea explored in Strong Magic is the concept of naturalness. Ortiz argues that magicians should strive to make their magic routines as natural and believable as possible. He believes that false and exaggerated movements, unnatural patter, and obvious tricks can ruin the credibility of a performance. Instead, he encourages magicians to focus on subtleties, misdirection, and audience management techniques to create the illusion of real magic. Throughout the book, Ortiz provides practical advice and techniques for improving one's magic performance. He discusses the importance of scripting and rehearsing, the effective use of humor, the use of props and gimmicks, and the psychology of spectator management. He also shares anecdotes and examples from his own performances to illustrate the concepts he presents. Overall, Strong Magic is a valuable resource for any magician who wants to create powerful and memorable magic performances. It offers a deep understanding of the psychological and technical aspects of magic, and provides practical techniques and advice for improving one's skill and performance. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced magician, Strong Magic offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enhance your magic performances..
Reviews for "The Art of Finesse: Darwin Ortiz's Techniques for Performing Strong Magic"
1. Emma - 2 stars
As someone who loves magic, I was really disappointed by Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz. While the book claims to provide valuable insights into the art of magic, I found it to be overly complex and overly technical. The author seemed more interested in showing off his knowledge and skills rather than providing practical advice for aspiring magicians. The explanations were convoluted and difficult to follow, and I felt like I needed a PhD in magic just to understand the concepts. Overall, I found the book to be frustrating and not very helpful in enhancing my own magic performances.
2. John - 2 stars
I really wanted to like Strong Magic, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author tried to cram too much information into the book, making it overwhelming and confusing. I found myself getting lost in the technical jargon and complex explanations, which made it difficult to apply the lessons to my own magic performances. Additionally, the book lacked clear examples and illustrations, leaving me struggling to visualize how the techniques should be executed. While it's clear that the author has a deep knowledge of magic, his approach in this book made it inaccessible for beginners like myself.
3. Sarah - 3 stars
Personally, I didn't find Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz to be as groundbreaking as many others claim. The book covers a wide range of topics related to magic, but I felt that it lacked depth in each area. It seemed like the author was just scratching the surface of each concept, leaving me wanting more. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dry and lacking enthusiasm, which made it difficult to stay engaged. While there were some interesting insights scattered throughout the book, overall, I found it to be underwhelming and not worth the hype.
4. Michael - 2 stars
I had high hopes for Strong Magic, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to its reputation. The book is filled with lengthy explanations and technical jargon that made it a chore to read. Instead of providing practical advice that can be easily applied by magicians, the author seemed more interested in intellectualizing magic. I found myself losing interest quickly and struggling to gain any useful insights or techniques. Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of practicality and the excessive focus on theory in this book.