What Is Real?

[MitchellStafiej]

"What Is Real" - Morpheus

If you look around yourself, you'll probably see pencils, pens, paper, a computer, etc. When you look at these things, is what you are looking at indeed "real"? When you pick up a snowball is that ball of snow in fact real? It might be, but we can't define what exactly is real. Are we real?

(O.K. a little too deep.)

What's real is the emotions that a person feels when they pick up that snowball and when they carry out their day to day activities. Sure, that chocolate they're eating might be real, but what's more real is the emotions that fill their body when eating this euphoric food.

Although this post isn't real, you will feel emotions when reading it (most likely boredom), and those emotions are more real than anything around you.

(Wait for epiphany)

How does this Matrix/Post-Modern(ish) thread relate to magic? When a spectator sees magic, they may or not see "real" magic, they might see it as a trick. But what IS real is the emotions that they feel, those emotions will overcome the doubt of trickery in their minds.

Now I wont be trying to explain what emotions are and how they work... that is what Wikipedia is for.

Take note... Wikipedia is the single greatest invention in humanity.

Emotion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion

When a person is watching a film, and the lines of reality are blurred. (We know they are because movies aren't real.) Post modern *******. A film maker's goal is to capture the viewer's emotions, to twist them and manipulate them to make them feel emotion. These emotions that they feel when watching a movie ARE real, but the film isn't. Their emotions make them forget that the movie isn't real.

When was the last time that you thought to yourself during a movie, these actors aren't real, the movie isn't real, nothing about what I'm watching is real?

These emotions that were felt by the viewer blocked out all doubt that the film wasn't real. The emotions overcame the viewer's mind and body and captivate the viewer to believe everything that he/she was watching in front of him/her.

This same concept applies to a spectator. If the magician can captivate his/her audience, then the emotions will block out all doubt of trickery that the magician used to achieve the end result. Emotions are what a magician needs to create within his/her spectators, because without them, magic would have no effect on anyone.

Magic CAN be real because the emotions felt by the spectators are real. Remember, once again, performance, showmanship, and presentation is ALWAYS key to create a wonderful experience and to create emotion for and within spectators.

Mitchell

P.S. Fo shizzle.

[Sean_Raf]

You think that's air you're breathing now? 'cause it's not... it's Ultrasmoke.

But seriously, nice post. I thoroughly agree with what you're saying here, it's not always about what the Spectator sees or how you feel you did in an illusion, it's about the feeling that you create. This is why you get different reactions from spectators, how they show their emotions (or not in some cases).

It must be stated however, that when told to create an atmosphere and endow an emotion on a spectator that a lot of people mistake that for going OTT and in their minds conjure up the image of a darkened room lit only by one candle and the performer going to extreme lengths to create the mood.

To create the mood, you've got to involve your spectator, get them really involved in your magic, let THEM hold the card when it changes, let THEM feel the card come to the top. That way they don't just see the magic, they feel it.

Nice post again Mitchell, you've earned yourself a cookie. Of course... Appearances can be deceiving. The cookie will explode.

- Sean

[KeenanG]

Interesting way to look at it Mr. S.

Magic is not real. Everyone knows this.

But does that mean that people can't have a feeling deep down inside that it just may be?

Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Excitement.


These are just 4 of the many emotions that your audience feels when you perform. It can range from the smallest of emotions, to the biggest. Magic truely change lives. It is like music. It can happen. It CAN be an art. It CAN just be entertainment. It is was you make out of it.

Truely. What is real? Is it the air your breathing? The food you eat? The words you eat?

Or the feelings you feel?

Keenan

(Deep.)

[Farrell]

Nothing is real, there is no spoon.

[Cliff|Bumgardner]

"We (magicians) are using illusions to break down worldly illusions in order to let someone experience something real" ~Paul Harris (I am paraphrasing here)

"Nothing is true, all things are permitted" ~Video Game (yes, video game)

SharpestLives (Quote Master)

[Chicken]

YOu have a deep phsycological mind. I like people like that.

[NlightN]

Nothing is real, there is no spoon.

go back to the matrix.

your very thoughts are real and you have a drawer full of spoons. i have at least.

[MitchellStafiej]

Interesting way to look at it Mr. S.

Magic is not real. Everyone knows this.

But does that mean that people can't have a feeling deep down inside that it just may be?

Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Excitement.


These are just 4 of the many emotions that your audience feels when you perform. It can range from the smallest of emotions, to the biggest. Magic truely change lives. It is like music. It can happen. It CAN be an art. It CAN just be entertainment. It is was you make out of it.

Truely. What is real? Is it the air your breathing? The food you eat? The words you eat?

Or the feelings you feel?

Keenan

(Deep.)

When you think about real, don't you feel as if you shouldn't be thinking about it?

Weird.

Mitchell :P