Magic: The Science Of Illusion
Magic has been connected to mystery and things that cannot be
explained by science. But, during the recent years, there has
been in-depth studies focused to magic. Now, magic is known to
be the science of illusion. More than that, magic is also an art
based on science and techniques.
In fields of sciences like psychiatry, illusion is said to be a
distortion of sensory perception. But no matter how negative
this may sound, magic has entertained people based on illusion.
This gives the impression that something impossible has
occurred. Magic tricks are based on scientific principles but
people do not seem to connect magic and science.
Different illusions are being used in magic and there are seven
types of them.
? Production. These are magic tricks out of thin air. Producing
something out of nothing. Tricks like these include appearing
acts - rabbit coming out of an empty hat, coins from an empty
pocket and the magician or an assistant appearing through a puff
of smoke on an empty stage.
? Vanish. Tricks from this category are those disappearing acts
like coins disappearing, a dove vanishing out of thin air by a
clap of hand and stuffs inside silks into the hands of the
magician but when opened revealed nothing. This category is the
total opposite of production. The similar tricks are used but
done in reverse.
? Transformation. As the word suggest, the tricks in this
category involve those which transform anything to another form
- chicken to an eagle, fire into a rabbit or a broom into a
woman.
? Restoration. Magic tricks using this illusion is meant to
restore something to the state it was once before like a cut
rope into three parts back into one or cards cut into fourths
and back to one.
? Teleportation. This illusion is meant to transfer things to
another place. These are the classic tricks that truly amaze
people like uncovered cages with one person each and they
magically exchange places in a few seconds. This is what is
known as double teleportation.
? Levitation. The trick involves lifting objects, animals and
even people into air by using trance.
? Penetration. Tricks in this category involve the passing
through of objects through a solid wall. One important thing in
maintaining the illusion in magic tricks is the secrecy of the
magician. The magician should maintain this secrecy in order to
be respected and treated with credibility by other magicians.
The only exception is when a magician shares the secrets of the
trade with someone who is a serious student of magic.
Remember, you are "killing" the magic by telling the secrets of
your tricks to others and reducing them to mere intellectual
riddles and puzzles.