(This article was published with title, 'What is an art of magic?' by The Ethiopian Herald, dated 07 Oct 2013. To read on TEH site, click here)
October 31st marks the 87th death anniversary of world’s all time hero of escapology, Harry Houdini. It was he who introduced great escape acts to the world of magical entertainment. Houdini was born as Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, March 24. His attainments in 52 years of life on this earth have now become a timeless contribution. As a child, Weiss joined his parents to migrate to the USA, where he earned fame by the new name, ‘Harry Houdini’. If ‘Harry’ resembled ‘Ehrry’ as he was called by his pals, ‘Houdini’ was a name he deliberately adopted owing to huge adulation he had for the legendary French magician, Robert Houdin. The change from school’s proud trapeze artiste and the town’s well known marathoner to ‘Harry Houdini’ was as if it was celestially destined.
He devoted his life for demonstrating various escape techniques – from simple handcuffs to closed milk cans; and from straight jacket to fire and water escapes. His was the famous say, “Stone walls do not a prison make nor irons walls a cage.” He wished to place the art of magic to posterity and wanted the lineage of magical artists to withstand the ebbs and flows of time. His efforts were to make magic at par with other performing arts. Today, a strong regiment of descendents all over the world and an endless growth for the art are all venerable gestures of tribute to this master of the past.
Today’s magic
The art of magic is an integral part of the entertainment business of today’s world. From David Copperfield of the US to Gopinath Muthukad of India, magicians prove their art’s theatrical value. Las Vegas of the US is the capital of world magic. A galaxy of world renowned magicians meet here making regular shows for satisfying diverse tastes of visitors. One of the unique landmarks of the Hollywood is a ‘Magic Castle’ that became operational in 1963. The Castle is now a centre of confluence for world’s premier magicians. Here, the members not only entertain hundreds of daily visitors, but also brush up their skills to ensure perpetual excellence.
Be sure that debated here is not black magic or sorcery, but a pure magic that is used for entertainment. Magic of today is vastly branched. Comedy magic, escape magic, illusion shows, table hop magic, card magic, gospel magic, and educational magic are all in the long list. If comedy magic makes you break into laughter; escape magic turns you breathless as the magician plays between life and death. An illusion magic can levitate you to a whimsical experience where everything can be produced from nowhere; and anything can be vanished, transformed or transported at the will of an illusionist. Table hop magic is one demanded by leading hotels and restaurants all over the world. Here magicians perform through table after table to entertain clients who wait before food is served. Since the distance between the spectator and the performer is the least, magicians do right beneath your nose, using ordinary things like a salt shaker, fork, spoon or a piece of tissue paper. In between, salt shaker may levitate in the air, spoons may get bent at the look of a magician and paper balls may become fresh lemons.
How do they do?
Magicians of the present are far more transparent and frank enough to tell you that there is nothing supernatural with their shows. Instead, they avow that their art is more akin to a dance, drama or painting. Only difference is that for a magic show you should possess dexterity of hands and support of science. Besides these, magician as an entertainer also needs communication skill, self confidence, body control and deep concentration. Magicians apply certain aspects to divert their audience’s attention from the real secret. They call it ‘art of misdirection’. Another thing is ‘power of suggestion’ through which a magician influences the mindset of a spectator. Misdirection, power of suggestion, showmanship and style of presentation determine the entertainment quality of a magic show.
Magic as a medium
Today magic show is proved as one of the fascinating medium for communication. For example, in many countries, Christian churches use magicians to disseminate the virtuous messages from the Bible. Coming under the general title, ‘Gospel magic’, such magic shows make the Bible’s messages lucid, palatable and enjoyable for the audiences of all sorts.
Magic itself remains to be a universal language where formal language and its grammar have little role. Illiterate and literate; bureaucrat and beggar; housewife and airhostess; teacher and student; space scientist and social scientist receive the same engrossment – a feel of being amazed or else, an amusement out of the wonderful. Magical messages get easily stuck to hearts by the lingering glue of wonder. As long as the wonder prevails, the messages also remain. For example, if a magician performs for the publicity of our Grand Renaissance Dam, it would easily gather more public support and the subject will continue to be talk of the town for longer time. Similar insight has prompted the Defence Ministry of India to engage illusionist Muthukad to perform all over the country. The job was not only entertaining defence personnel and the public but also enlightening them with messages of Gandhism, national integration and communal harmony. The Election Commission entrusted the magician to sensitize people upon the value of casting their votes; whereas the Excise Department of the Kerala State used him for spreading awareness against drug abuse and tobacco use. In 2011, the US-based International Magicians’ Society has conferred ‘Merlin Award’ – an Oscar equivalent in magic - on Muthukad in due recognition of his extensive use of magic as a communication medium.
Learning magic
Magic as an art is open for learning at many reputed magic training centres world over. The pattern of training and fees may differ, but all these institutions put forward a single prerequisite: an unblemished commitment for learning. At magic schools, artistic talents are more valued than your formal educational qualifications. And for becoming a successful magician, they propose a three-step secret: practice, practice and practice! Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Extension of the Kerala University one of the mother universities of India has approved a certificate course and a diploma course in magic. Considered to be the world’s first university approved, these courses are offered at the Asia’s first Magic Academy situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala in south India. Here one can acquire either the nitty-gritty of magical art or a deep exploration on them.
Employment
After learning magic you can opt from myriads of employment opportunities available in and out of your country. It can be as a Resident Magician of a luxurious cruise ship, or Table Hop magician at a five star hotel, or a birthday magic performer, or an extravagant illusionist. If these are not your options, you can join the Houdini lineage, make spectacular escape stunts and fetch a towering global fame.
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| Indian Houdini, Gopinath Muthukad makes a zestful presentation against alcohol. Image courtesy: Magic Academy, India |
He devoted his life for demonstrating various escape techniques – from simple handcuffs to closed milk cans; and from straight jacket to fire and water escapes. His was the famous say, “Stone walls do not a prison make nor irons walls a cage.” He wished to place the art of magic to posterity and wanted the lineage of magical artists to withstand the ebbs and flows of time. His efforts were to make magic at par with other performing arts. Today, a strong regiment of descendents all over the world and an endless growth for the art are all venerable gestures of tribute to this master of the past.
Today’s magic
The art of magic is an integral part of the entertainment business of today’s world. From David Copperfield of the US to Gopinath Muthukad of India, magicians prove their art’s theatrical value. Las Vegas of the US is the capital of world magic. A galaxy of world renowned magicians meet here making regular shows for satisfying diverse tastes of visitors. One of the unique landmarks of the Hollywood is a ‘Magic Castle’ that became operational in 1963. The Castle is now a centre of confluence for world’s premier magicians. Here, the members not only entertain hundreds of daily visitors, but also brush up their skills to ensure perpetual excellence.
Be sure that debated here is not black magic or sorcery, but a pure magic that is used for entertainment. Magic of today is vastly branched. Comedy magic, escape magic, illusion shows, table hop magic, card magic, gospel magic, and educational magic are all in the long list. If comedy magic makes you break into laughter; escape magic turns you breathless as the magician plays between life and death. An illusion magic can levitate you to a whimsical experience where everything can be produced from nowhere; and anything can be vanished, transformed or transported at the will of an illusionist. Table hop magic is one demanded by leading hotels and restaurants all over the world. Here magicians perform through table after table to entertain clients who wait before food is served. Since the distance between the spectator and the performer is the least, magicians do right beneath your nose, using ordinary things like a salt shaker, fork, spoon or a piece of tissue paper. In between, salt shaker may levitate in the air, spoons may get bent at the look of a magician and paper balls may become fresh lemons.
How do they do?
Magicians of the present are far more transparent and frank enough to tell you that there is nothing supernatural with their shows. Instead, they avow that their art is more akin to a dance, drama or painting. Only difference is that for a magic show you should possess dexterity of hands and support of science. Besides these, magician as an entertainer also needs communication skill, self confidence, body control and deep concentration. Magicians apply certain aspects to divert their audience’s attention from the real secret. They call it ‘art of misdirection’. Another thing is ‘power of suggestion’ through which a magician influences the mindset of a spectator. Misdirection, power of suggestion, showmanship and style of presentation determine the entertainment quality of a magic show.
Magic as a medium
Today magic show is proved as one of the fascinating medium for communication. For example, in many countries, Christian churches use magicians to disseminate the virtuous messages from the Bible. Coming under the general title, ‘Gospel magic’, such magic shows make the Bible’s messages lucid, palatable and enjoyable for the audiences of all sorts.
Magic itself remains to be a universal language where formal language and its grammar have little role. Illiterate and literate; bureaucrat and beggar; housewife and airhostess; teacher and student; space scientist and social scientist receive the same engrossment – a feel of being amazed or else, an amusement out of the wonderful. Magical messages get easily stuck to hearts by the lingering glue of wonder. As long as the wonder prevails, the messages also remain. For example, if a magician performs for the publicity of our Grand Renaissance Dam, it would easily gather more public support and the subject will continue to be talk of the town for longer time. Similar insight has prompted the Defence Ministry of India to engage illusionist Muthukad to perform all over the country. The job was not only entertaining defence personnel and the public but also enlightening them with messages of Gandhism, national integration and communal harmony. The Election Commission entrusted the magician to sensitize people upon the value of casting their votes; whereas the Excise Department of the Kerala State used him for spreading awareness against drug abuse and tobacco use. In 2011, the US-based International Magicians’ Society has conferred ‘Merlin Award’ – an Oscar equivalent in magic - on Muthukad in due recognition of his extensive use of magic as a communication medium.
Learning magic
Magic as an art is open for learning at many reputed magic training centres world over. The pattern of training and fees may differ, but all these institutions put forward a single prerequisite: an unblemished commitment for learning. At magic schools, artistic talents are more valued than your formal educational qualifications. And for becoming a successful magician, they propose a three-step secret: practice, practice and practice! Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Extension of the Kerala University one of the mother universities of India has approved a certificate course and a diploma course in magic. Considered to be the world’s first university approved, these courses are offered at the Asia’s first Magic Academy situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala in south India. Here one can acquire either the nitty-gritty of magical art or a deep exploration on them.
Employment
After learning magic you can opt from myriads of employment opportunities available in and out of your country. It can be as a Resident Magician of a luxurious cruise ship, or Table Hop magician at a five star hotel, or a birthday magic performer, or an extravagant illusionist. If these are not your options, you can join the Houdini lineage, make spectacular escape stunts and fetch a towering global fame.
- K. P. Sivakumar
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