Magic

Magic, along with its subgenres of, and sometimes referred to as illusion, stage magic or street
magic is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by staged tricks or illusions of
seemingly impossible feats using natural means.[1][2] It is to be distinguished from paranormal
magic which, it is claimed, are effects created through supernatural means. It is one of the
oldest performing arts in the world.

Contents

1History

1.1Magic tricks

1.2Modern stage magic

2Categories of effects

3Learning magic

4Types of magic performance

5Misuse of magic

6Researching magic

7See also

8References

9Further reading

10External links

History[edit]

The term "magic" etymologically derives from the Greek word mageia (μαγεία). In ancient times,
Greeks and Persians had been at war for centuries, and the Persian priests, called magosh in
Persian, came to be known as magoi in Greek. Ritual acts of Persian priests came to be known
as mageia, and then magika—which eventually came to mean any foreign, unorthodox, or
illegitimate ritual practice. During the 17th century, many books were published that described
magic tricks. Until the 18th century, magic shows were a common source of entertainment at fairs.
A founding figure of modern entertainment magic was Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, who had a
magic theatre in Paris in 1845. John Henry Andersonwas pioneering the same transition
in London in the 1840s. Towards the end of the 19th century, large magic shows permanently
staged at big theatre venues became the norm.[3]As a form of entertainment, magic easily moved
from theatrical venues to television magic specials. Performances that modern observers would
recognize as conjuring have been practiced throughout history.[citation needed] For many
recorded centuries, magicians were associated with the devil and the occult. During the 19th and
20th centuries, many stage magicians even capitalized on this notion in their
advertisements.[4] The same level of ingenuity that was used to produce famous ancient
deceptions such as the Trojan Horse would also have been used for entertainment, or at least for
cheating in money games. They were also used by the practitioners of various religions
and cults from ancient times onwards to frighten uneducated people into obedience or turn them
into adherents. However, the profession of the illusionist gained strength only in the 18th century,
and has enjoyed several popular vogues since.[citation needed]

Magic tricks[edit]

See also: List of magic tricks

Opinions vary among magicians on how to categorize a given effect, but a number of categories
have been developed. Magicians may pull a rabbit from an empty hat, make something seem to
disappear, or transform a red silk handkerchief into a green silk handkerchief. Magicians may also
destroy something, like cutting a head off, and then "restore" it, make something appear to move
from one place to another, or they may escape from a restraining device. Other illusions include
making something appear to defy gravity, making a solid object appear to pass through another
object, or appearing to predict the choice of a spectator. Many magic routines use combinations of
effects.

An illustration from Reginald Scot's The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584), one of the earliest books
on magic tricks, explaining how the "Decollation of John Baptist" decapitation illusionmay be
performed

One of the earliest books on the subject is Gantziony's work of 1489, Natural and Unnatural Magic,
which describes and explains old-time tricks.[5] In 1584, Englishman Reginald Scot published The
Discoverie of Witchcraft, part of which was devoted to debunking the claims that magicians used
supernatural methods, and showing how their "magic tricks" were in reality accomplished. Among
the tricks discussed were sleight-of-hand manipulations with rope, paper and coins. At the time,
fear and belief in witchcraft was widespread and the book tried to demonstrate that these fears
were misplaced.[6] Popular belief held that all obtainable copies were burned on the accession
of James I in 1603. [7]

During the 17th century, many similar books were published that described in detail the methods
of a number of magic tricks, including The Art of Conjuring (1614) and The Anatomy of
Legerdemain: The Art of Juggling (c. 1675).

Advertisement for Isaac Fawkes' show from 1724 in which he boasts of the success of his
performances for the King and Prince George

Until the 18th century, magic shows were a common source of entertainment at fairs, where
itinerant performers would entertain the public with magic tricks, as well as the more traditional
spectacles of sword swallowing, juggling and fire breathing. In the early 18th century, as belief in
witchcraft was waning, the art became increasingly respectable and shows would be put on for
rich private patrons. A notable figure in this transition was the English showman, Isaac Fawkes,
who began to promote his act in advertisements from the 1720s – he even claimed to have
performed for King George II. One of Fawkes' advertisements described his routine in some detail:

He takes an empty bag, lays it on the Table and turns it several times inside out, then commands
100 Eggs out of it and several showers of real Gold and silver, then the Bag beginning to swell
several sorts of wild fowl run out of it upon the Table. He throws up a Pack of Cards, and causes
them to be living birds flying about the room. He causes living Beasts, Birds, and other Creatures
to appear upon the Table. He blows the spots of the Cards off and on, and changes them to any
pictures.[8]