The Evolution of Magic: Then and Now

So you’re fond of magic. And why you wouldn’t be? There are not many people who aren’t fascinated by magic tricks. The practice of magic was always a matter of attraction for the public and we all are excited to witness some of the mind boggling tricks right in front of our eyes. People from all over the globe never hesitated to admire the skills of magicians for centuries. The practice of magic or illusion has been a trend right from the ancient times, as the first documented magic performance can be traced back to Egypt during the 2700 BC. It was during this performance that a conjurer reportedly made balls appear suddenly out of nowhere.  Over the centuries, magic has evolved from just some handful tricks to bigger feats like the disappearance of the Taj Mahal or a magician being able to catch all the bullets shot at him and even the world-famous Chinese water torture trick. It is evident that a lot of research has been conducted in order to display magical prowess on screen.

Craze For Illusions

When an illusionist appears on stage, we all are certain that we’re in for a spectacular show. He is just going to perform some of the amazing supernatural feats that will keep us asking for more. Even when a show comes to an end, we wish there are some more surprise tricks coming up. Such is the craziness associated with illusion and the way illusionists have been able to win our hearts, the popularity of this particular art is never going to decrease. One of the oldest magic tricks that became popular quickly was related to cards and mind-reading. Even today such tricks can be seen to be performed by a lot of magicians. However, the only difference between then and now is that magicians aren’t tortured these days, thanks to better education and transparency about what they do and how they do it.

Magic Is Not Supernatural

When we think of magic, the first thing we imagine is someone holding a magic wand and casting spells in order to make an item disappear. Thanks to the Hollywood movies and novels, we always associate the term ‘magic’ with sorcerers, wizards and witches. One more creature whose presence we cannot avoid is an owl. Well, firstly we should understand there’s a wide gap between reality and the things showed on screen. Now, in reality, magic is nothing like what we think of it. In fact, magic is a careful practice of scientific applications that enable an individual to manipulate the audience. And there’s no sorcery in it. Everything is transparent. The only difference is that the audience is never as smart as the illusionists and digital magicians. Illusionists are extremely well-honed in the art of conversation and keeping people engaged. They know psychology better than 95% of people and that makes a clear difference. It is their grinding efforts and determined practice through years that enable them to stand on stage and amaze the audience. It’s not as easy as casting a spell and transforming a rat into a chalice. Magic in the real world takes a lot of practice and patience that only digital magicians could go through.