I both want to respect the reality he would have lived in, had he been real, and respect the identities he could have held. But labeling him as such uses a language which he could not have had access to, even in Card Shark's exaggerated historical fiction. Eugene may well be trans, or certainly, the game leaves enough room for him to be so perceived. Rather we should understand that they were, just as we are, existing in the constraints and language of their surrounding culture. At the top of screen, French literary giant Voltaire declares "Cheats you say? Truly corrupted souls, how interesting."Ĭrucially, this does not mean we cannot resonate with or take meaning from the historial queer figures. Eugene and the Comte sit at the table as a man approaches them. An example of people gathered around a table in Card Shark. I particularly like the phrasing of Kit Heyam's recent history of gender's title: "Before We Were Trans." The implication is that past gender-non-confirming people share a common heritage, and many identities, with current trans people, but that the particular label of "trans" is relatively new. Rather they broadly identify experiences and social norms, against which people of all kinds judge and understand themselves. These labels are not untarnished truths that we can now use to interpret history purely. However, it should be emphasized that these are relatively modern labels that are unevenly and sometimes unfairly layered over an infinite variety of individuals and identities. It is tempting and not always incorrect to label historical figures as gay or lesbian or trans. This is, in no way, meant to undermine the potential to understand him as queer. I am going to use he/him pronouns and the name Eugene for Card Shark's protagonist. That extends to Card Shark's depiction of crossdressing, gender nonconformity, and transness.īefore we dig into Card Shark's relationship to gender, I want to start on a brief note on pronouns and how to discuss the potential tranness of historical figures. While the story told is largely fiction, a combination of The Three Musketeers and a satirical comedy of manners, the social circumstances of the characters are grounded in a material history. Player character Eugene and his mentor, the Comte de Saint Germain, will explore all this through cheating at the aforementioned card games, amassing wealth, and discovering a mystery at the heart of the French monarchy. Underneath it all, Romani caravans avoid persecution and the revolution brews. Card Shark's France is broiling with class friction, as a rising bourgeoisie has increasing power but is also isolated from the immense wealth of the ruling aristocracy. Card Shark freely borrows tricksters and cheats from throughout history but also shows off the unique class-bridging function of card playing in the specific time period. The game's tangible relationship to history is playful, broad, and particular ( as I've written about before). In its broad survey of French aristocracy, Card Shark allows players to explore crossdressing and queerness. Only when the night is over do you count your coins, realize how much you've lost, and think again of that shining smile. Forgetting her knife-sharp grin, you settle into a wine-fuelled haze. Her hands are always bad and her grasp of the rules seems tenuous. She hides her jawline beneath a fan, smiles with glittering power as she is invited to the card table. Slight and dainty, she's the niece of a posh lord. Card Sharp is a comprehensive DVD on cheating at poker, and this information is for entertainment purposes only.There is a woman at this party. With Brian Tudor's Card Sharp, you'll give professional demonstrations of authentic techniques never bestowed before or since in one complete volume. Trick Deals: Putting HOT cards where YOU want them!.Countering the Cut: Nullifying the Cut!.False Shuffles: Retaining the deck in Stacked order!.A complete cheating system compiled in one volume!īrian Tudor, a world-renowned card mechanic known for his unparalleled speed and dexterity as well as his groundbreaking new-school style, has broken all the rules by daring to reveal this material! Descriptions outlining the five principals covered in this volume are thoroughly broken down step-by-step and visually explained in precise detail. Card Sharp by Brian Tudor is one of the most valuable DVDs on the planet! Boasting a wealth of information, it's THE professional guide to cheating at poker.
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