Editing Entertainment (section)

==== Magic ====
{{Main|Magic (illusion)}}
The form of entertainment known as [[Magic (illusion)|stage magic]] or conjuring and recognisable as performance, is based on traditions and texts of magical rites and dogmas that have been a part of most cultural traditions since ancient times. (References to magic, for example, can be found in the Bible, in [[Hermeticism]], in [[Zoroastrianism]], in the [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] tradition, in [[mysticism]] and in the sources of [[Freemasonry]].)<ref>{{cite book|last=Lévi|first=Éliphas|title=The History of Magic ''(originally published in 1860 as'' Histoire de la Magie ''English edition, translated by A.E. Waite in 1913)''|year=2001|publisher=Red Wheel/Weiser|location=Boston, MA|isbn=978-0-87728-929-6}}</ref>

Stage magic is performed for an audience in a variety of media and locations: on stage, on television, in the street, and live at parties or events. It is often combined with other forms of entertainment, such as comedy or music and [[showmanship (performing)|showmanship]] is often an essential part of magic performances. Performance magic relies on deception, [[psychological manipulation]], sleight of hand and other forms of trickery to give an audience the illusion that a performer can achieve the impossible. Audiences amazed at the [[stunt performer|stunt performances]] and [[Escapology|escape acts]] of [[Harry Houdini]], for example, regarded him as a [[Magic (illusion)|magician]].<ref>{{Citation | title=Houdini: the man who walked through walls | author1=Gresham, William Lindsay | year=1959 | publisher=Holt}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=The Great Houdini: magician extraordinary | author1=Epstein, Beryl| author2=Epstein, Sam | year=1971 | location = Folkestone| publisher=Bailey Brothers and Swinfen (Reprint. Originally published: New York : Dutton, c. 1920)|isbn=978-0-561-00094-7 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title=Miracle mongers and their methods: a complete exposé | author1=Houdini, Harry | year=1981 | location = Buffalo, NY|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn = 978-0-87975-143-2 }} (Reprint. Originally published: New York: Dutton, c1920)</ref>

[[Magician (fantasy)|Fantasy magicians]] have held an important place in literature for centuries, offering entertainment to millions of readers. Famous wizards such as [[Merlin]] in the [[Arthurian legends]] have been written about since the 5th and 6th centuries, while in the 21st century, the young wizard [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] became a global entertainment phenomenon when the book series about him sold about 450 million copies (as at June 2011), making it the [[List of book series|best-selling book series in history]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rowling 'makes £5 every second'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7649962.stm|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 February 2013|date=3 October 2008|archive-date=11 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311003331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7649962.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Harry Potter series to be sold as e-books|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13889578|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 February 2013|date=23 June 2011|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719004955/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13889578|url-status=live}}</ref>