Rabbits out of a top hat, sawing a lady in half… These are just some of the images which come to mind when we hear the word “magic” or “magician”. But what really is magic?

People tend to dismiss magic as mere trickery and offer the explanation that the hands are faster than the eye. However, we must keep in mind that the purpose of magic is entertainment, and that this is achieved through allowing the audience to experience the impossible, question their sense of reality and escape into the realm of fantasy.

While some magicians would gladly have people believe in the “fast hands” explanation as proof of their skill and dexterity, the explanation is most definitely false and undermines magic as a harmony of skill, technique and psychology.

It is therefore true, in my opinion, that magic exists in our minds. To me, that is the single most important factor in magic. The beauty lies in the way magic is crafted to cause the audience to think along a predetermined psychological flow. The more you think about it, the more you sink deeper and deeper into self-deception.

The art of entertaining with apparently supernatural feats have existed for thousands of years. Evidences of conjurors have been found from ancient China and Egypt, amongst other places all around the world.

While in the past, these conjurors were believed to be granted special magical powers from the gods, today, most people accept magic as modern entertainment, an art and sadly, a hobby which is gaining in popularity.

Since ancient times, magic has retained much of its exclusiveness mainly by restricting resources (mainly passed down from one magician to another). With the information age and the Internet, communication and the dissemination of knowledge is at its height, threatening to transform this ancient art into an open secret.

It is my hope, that the dark side of the force shall not triumph, and that magic will survive, continuing to amaze and astound us.

Note: This article is granted use solely to the Singapore Magic Circle. If accepted, it shall be reproduced in its entirety and full credits given to its writer (Gordon Li). No other reproductions in any form, by any person(s), company or organization is allowed without the permission of its writer.


This article is in the competition, follow up post with "Vote" if you would like to vote for me.

i'll start, hehe :)

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Woah! Solid man. Two thumbs up.

Good. Vote.

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u can vote for yourself ? :blink:

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sorry bro, no vote from me. In my opinion, magic isn't about hands moving faster then the eye. Magic is not about trickery. Magic is about showing miracles to the audience and the audience must understand that sleight of hand was not used to achieve whatever was done.

Peace.

erm, u may have to reread it. im trying to say that the theory of "hands faster than eyes" is false and undermines the art of magic.

Alright. Since you seem keen on staying around for a while, and not just here to gush about blackwing, maybe you should post an intro in the hellos and intros section.

maybe she's here to gush at *other guys* too? :wub:

The hands can never be faster than the eye. Its the eye that is slower than the hand. :)

6 votes