talkmagic.co.uk

Hello,

i just watched this interesting video made by Paul Wilson on the topic of Is Magic an Art?

take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNGDoroJtYw


Sam

Magic IS an art! The trouble is that only 10% of magicians are artists. If even that.

I think the real question is: "Why are magicians so obsessed about magic being an art?"

I think a point was well made in that vid, showing a few tricks to your mates down the pub is not art, in the same way you can paint your house or paint a painting. One is art, the other isn't.

Lance Burton's dove's routine is a good example of how magic is art, it moves the viewer and creates awe. Magic is art when it is well practiced, well structured and well presented in a structured routine. Mark makes a good point, I'd agree that of all the people in the world who call themselves magicians, about 10% are true artists.

the last line sums it all up.


http://www.angelfire.com/movies/oc/tirades/artent.html

Too much bad language in that article for my taste. Most inartistic in fact.

I believe that art is the way that we communicate with each other. The way that we say, this is me, I was here. If you're just doing magic tricks 'out the box' with the same simple presentation of everyone else - 'Here shuffle these invisible cards, oh take them out of the box first!' then you're like a karaoke singer, instead of an original.
If you're creating, ideas, presentations, methods, performances, then you're an artist.
If you're creating the experience of magic for a lay audience, then you're a magician, too!