It makes more sense once you realize they're talking about bunny-in-hat magic and not magic magic.
Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
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Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#12Magic is already recognised on bank notes and in the pledge of allegiance.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's wrong with "experience the impossible"? Seems like a reasonable description of the situation to me, that's the whole point of magic.
If magic existed it would, by definition, be neither impossible nor supernatural.
Thanks for explaining that to me.
The ordinary experience for someone viewing a magic act is that something impossible has happened. The fact that we know, logically, that it cannot be the case doesn't change the fact that what we experience is impossible. It's unexplainable by the majority of viewers.
If the argument is "magic doesn't exist, therefore what you experienced is entirely normal and unremarkable" then frankly the interlocutor just don't get the point of why people watch magic.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#14The English language seems to be missing some word that other languages have. In Dutch, "goochelen", performed by a "goochelaar" is doing tricks in a show, where you know it's all illusions but it's still very impressive. On the other hand, "toveren", done by a "tovenaar" would be doing something supernatural. Typically a "goochelaar" is somebody on a stage with a black top hat, while a "tovenaar" is more like an old…
"...Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money... (looks at the kids) or cocaine!"
We call them magic shows in general, but some magician's call themselves illusionists. If we're talking about supernatural magic, sometimes we use the variant magick.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#15The English language seems to be missing some word that other languages have. In Dutch, "goochelen", performed by a "goochelaar" is doing tricks in a show, where you know it's all illusions but it's still very impressive. On the other hand, "toveren", done by a "tovenaar" would be doing something supernatural. Typically a "goochelaar" is somebody on a stage with a black top hat, while a "tovenaar" is more like an old…
A lot of English speakers will use the word "illusions" instead of magic for... well... illusions.
You don't have to use that word so maybe it's weaker than the Dutch "goochelaar," but a lot of people do.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#16It's nice to see that lobbying isn't just for large corporations, but vegas showmen can milk this ridiculous, broken system too. /s
And environmental groups. And human rights groups. And consumer rights groups. And safety advocacy groups... etc.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#17>Whereas magic enables people to experience the impossible Someone really didn't put much thought into this statement. And all the references to Project Magic does lead me to consider who put them up to proposing this
I agree that it sounds like lobbying. That being said, I think illusionists are definitely practitioners of an art form in its own right, so, good on them.
>Whereas magic enables people to experience the impossible
Now you're just playing with the fact that "magic" has two meanings, even if the context is well understood. The sentence is clearly worded, and the only logical interpretation is akin to "video games enable people to experience the impossible", which I find totally valid.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#18The English language seems to be missing some word that other languages have. In Dutch, "goochelen", performed by a "goochelaar" is doing tricks in a show, where you know it's all illusions but it's still very impressive. On the other hand, "toveren", done by a "tovenaar" would be doing something supernatural. Typically a "goochelaar" is somebody on a stage with a black top hat, while a "tovenaar" is more like an old…
On the other hand though "magician" unambiguously refers to a person that performs stage magic, in a modern context at least.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#19It's nice to see that lobbying isn't just for large corporations, but vegas showmen can milk this ridiculous, broken system too. /s
And environmental groups. And human rights groups. And consumer rights groups. And safety advocacy groups... etc.
Yes, but they're not so well funded, and their positions are fundamentally harder to communicate than simple, manipulative, well funded campaigns. It's like comparing a pre-school and a military school because they both share the words "School". You won't be totally wrong of course, but you will have missed the point.
Re: Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure
#20But why ? I am reminded of Davy Crockett's "Not yours to give" speech.
Because of a strong lobby, especially from David Copperfield. As usual, just follow the money.
Reads like an advertisement for Copperfield. But in terms of advancing the art form and of classic prestidigitation, I can think of no better current practitioner than Ricky Jay.