talkmagic.co.uk

Did you know you can get degrees in Surf Science, Brewing and Distilling and Stained Glass Window Studies?

I reckon there's more than enough material out there to offer a qualification in magic. Imagine going to Uni and having lectures in close up, grand illusions, sponge balls, audience management and performing techinques. If that was available when I was younger I'd have probably actually gone to Uni, especially for the bizarre magic practical sessions.

Is a real life Hogwarts a genuine possibility?

Someone has a degree in magic, now if only I could remember who it is....

FWIW, you can get this:
http://www.magicims.com/Magic_Shop/Doctor_of_Magic.php

I'm not sure why you would though? Does it look good on a CV?

Also, it looks like Indiana University has already got one student who 'majored' in Magic:
http://current.com/1tnd04c
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=75169

Owen Lean BA

The academic study of magic is developing nicely in the UK. I research and teach many elements of performance magic here at The University of Huddersfield, and while there isn't such a thing as a 'Degree in Magic', the research lends itself in all kinds of performance work. Not just perfromance, but set design and stage trickery. This year myself and a group of undergraduates researched and performed a devised show based around Carnival and the Bizarre. Next year a group of us will be specialising in Sideshow Illusions. There will also be a Third Year option to work on a magic based research project.

We also have postgraduate researchers in magic and magic events throughout the year.

And some other exciting (academic magic) news coming soon.

Also, let's not forget the other academics on the forum as well, including Dr. Todd and Madelon, all doing great work to further the cause



As for Hogwarts..

That's pretty cool Nik. I think one day we may see drama and the performing arts being part of the magic course rather than the other way around.

Second academic checking in! I'm researching and teaching with the University of Glamorgan (Cardiff-based), where magic exists as a research interest alongside other projects that fall under the header of issues surrounding the impact of performance. Not as senior as Nik (yet), but magic often comes up as a discussion point in my classes; though not strictly magic, Derren's Experiments were a perfect case study for a series of undergrad seminars on audience behaviour and response!

It has been suggested that anyone can just buy a PhD in a subject like psychology (from somewhere like Chelsea University) and call themselves, for example,
Dr. Johnothan Regal. Such behaviour would, in my eyes, be morally wrong.

A real PhD is a lot more difficult to attain...

Funnily enough, I was thinking recently whether I would have done a degree in magic if it were available. Magic seems to me to be just as valid as a performing art as music or drama - I'm sure it would be quite possible to build a degree course around it. It's just that it would be a big investment of time, and quite a gamble on the part of the university at first. That said, universities often introduce new and different degrees so there is hope yet. At any rate, it's fascinating to see that magic is finding its way into teaching and research on performing arts courses - it seems like the first steps have already been made!

I used to work at the University Of Huddersfield many years (decades) ago when I used to be very clever and there was never any studies in magic when I worked there. Their main areas of attainment were Engineering, Textiles and Music. Youngsters these days grumble grumble grumble

Since further education at Colleg/Uni can now be very expensive you might be better off spending that money on private tutoring/mentoring and, instead of having a University certificate, just prove your worth with your talent and skills.

Mandrake wrote:Since further education at Colleg/Uni can now be very expensive you might be better off spending that money on private tutoring/mentoring and, instead of having a University certificate, just prove your worth with your talent and skills.

That depends on the approach. I think both Nik and myself use magic in addition of and as an extension of (drama) theory and issues of performance, whereas personal tutorials are more likely to focus on techniques and effects.

Oh absolutely. I was looking at it from the perspective of going on to perform magic rather than using it as part of other disciplines. The cost factor is still a big stumbling block to many but certainly a Performing Arts Course/Degree study which included Drama, Juggling, Magic, Mime, Music and other similar skills would be great.

Wouldn't a degree in magic be pretty boring?

I mean I love magic... but I if I had to it every single day and had to over analyse everything I did or other people had done in magic, then I think that would make me lose favour with it.

My relationship with magic is simple - perform!!
I know you won't believe it but sometimes, I go a while without a gig, and I work on my routines in theory. I then go and do a gig and change all the theory I thought and wrote about. Any degree course would have to have performance experience, and not fake 'family and friends' performance experience - I mean real performance experience.