How Do They Do It? Learning from the Great Magicians.
Just what is this thing we call "magic"? Let's consider the
definition that comes to us from Webster's dictionary:
"The art of persons who claim to be able to do things by the
help of supernatural creatures or by their own knowledge of
nature's secrets....
Something that charms; any seemingly hidden or secret power; as,
the magic of a voice; the magic of a great name....
Sleight of hand....
Seemingly requiring more than human power; startling in
performance; producing effects which seem supernatural...."
Pretty interesting stuff, right?! In this definition we get a
whole bunch of different ideas, all of them working together and
yet somehow contradicting each other.
On the one hand, we have the idea that there's something
supernatural at work. Something superhuman, or "out of this
world."
But at the same time we are meant to understand that it's only
"seemingly" so. Magicians "claim" to have special powers, but
whether they actually do is up for debate.
Nevertheless, Webster's definition of magic helps to give us a
starting point for our journey through this ancient art form.
What Is Magic?
At its most basic, the word "magic" carries with it the idea of
special powers, or at least the illusion of possessing such
powers.
At one end of the spectrum, the word implies someone who has the
ability to do things that few other mortal beings can do. A
magician in this sense would be someone who, for example, is
able to walk on fire, levitate off the ground, or read other
people's minds.
The other end of the spectrum, however, has a more practical or
even cynical understanding of the term. It takes the view that
magic is a form of trickery, even deliberate deceit. A magician
in this sense of the word is someone skilled at lying and who is
cleverer than his audience. He is intent on "pulling the wool
over" others' eyes.
In reality, and for our purposes, let's come to an understanding
of magic that takes the middle ground. Magic isn't pure
supernatural power, but it isn't garden variety mean-spirited
deception, either.
A good magician is one who gives the appearance of possessing
special powers, an impression that both he and his audience
agree to believe in together. Magic is meant not to outwit, fool
or upset anyone-it's meant to surprise, astonish and delight.
In this view, magic is something wonderful and enjoyable, both
for the practitioner and for the audience members who are also
involved. It is an entertainment, a diversion, an escape from
our mundane, ordinary lives. It is a chance for all of us to
brush up against the possibility of something greater than
ourselves!
The Magic Superstars
Just as there are movie stars, super athletes, and Nobel
Prize-winning authors, there are also some magicians whose
talents and skills set them apart from the rest. All of us
amateur magicians admire them and can stand to learn a lot from
these magic superstars!
This article was extracted from the book 'Discover The Magic
Trick Secrets You're Not Supposed To Know'. To find out more
please visit www.DiscoverMagicTricks
.com