the magic of art
Clayton DeHaven
a word on "magic":
First, yes, it's real. Undeniably. I mean, you can deny it all you like, just like you can
deny the fact that the sun rose this morning, and you can deny the fact that there
are stars in the sky-- there are technical explanations that will cause you to
redefine your terms, but in the end-- the truths are self-evident.
Most people who are aware of real magic either practise it as a
(please forgive the umbrella term) "pagan",
or even as a darker practitioner of sorts
-- or are people who are aware of these people.
I've met very few who are aware of the the deepest, truest, oldest magic, though.
The magic of art. The power that the arts have over human emotion.
Writing, visual art, dancing, music, and architecture-- these are the five most powerful magics of which I know (writing and architecture being the two youngest).
I think it's funny how often magic is taken for granted in our world. Its meaning has been so twisted through inappropriate, ignorant, and over-use, that we basically pretend it only exists in fantasy-- much like we pretend conspiracies only exist in fictional intrigue.
You know, there was a time when ash and blood paintings on a cave wall would make a person's heart stir. They could incite excitement, fear, pain, or wonder.
Today, we've come a long way from the cave-painting. Now we have digitally-enhanced, high-tech, optical-illusory 3D, complete with an obscenely over-priced popcorn
and soft drink, if we like.
The medium may seem to upgrade, but the evocation (magic) stays the same. The only significant difference between films and those cave paintings, is that we now bring all of the arts together. A film may have exquisite dancers (e.g. Fame!), amazing buildings (e.g. Infinite Space); but it certainly WILL also have writers, music, and aesthetically-pleasing visuals. That comes together to make a pretty powerful effect.
Why do I call it magic? Mostly, due to the way it affects our emotions. It often happens without our even realizing it. I mean, sometimes it's obvious, like when we go to an awesome martial-arts flick, we get out, and suddenly feel like we could fight an army of bad-guys; or when we go to a tear-jerker,
and come out with moist cheeks and blurry eyes.
Other times, however, the effect is much more subtle; and it's not precisely the same effect on everyone. You can't simply expose any random two people to the same exact stimulus, and expect them to have the same exact reaction; in science, when your variables are the same, you expect the same reaction. Of course, humans are an ever-changing variable, so this is hardly a precise comparison, but you get the idea.
The art stirs our emotions; our emotions influence our thoughts; our thoughts determine our actions; and our actions change the world. Therefore, art changes the world. It is this power to create change, that I call "magic". One day, someone may create the science that demystifies exactly how each art influences us psychologically, and so they'll claim, "It is no magic, it's simply applied sciences!"
It won't change the fact, however, that there is no one "right" way to do it. That's the great thing about art; it affects everyone differently, and it can be made according to no rules whatsoever. We like to apply rules to everything to make them seem more comfortable, predictable, and therefore less scary-- but just as there is a science (rules) to making a good pot of tea, there are no rules to dictate who will enjoy which flavours the best. Nature does not judge whether one type of tea leaf is better than another; it grows each with equal proliferation, based on the manner in which it evolved. It is the magic of flavour and personal taste which will determine the "best" tea in an individual's mind.
It is important, then, that we are aware of magic; because whehter or not we believe in it-- whether or not we call it "magic"-- it continues to have the power to influence us; it continues to be wielded by others for our benefit or harm.
Perhaps as you go forward, consider the power of the magic you take in from each medium. How is it affecting your emotions as you experience it? What is the lingering effect it has on you throughout the rest of the day? Is it making you angry? Does it make you sad? Does it spur your drive? Does it make you want to give up?
I once asked a famous musician, "What do you think is the role of magic in our world?"
He replied simply, "It's profound."
And he was right.
First, yes, it's real. Undeniably. I mean, you can deny it all you like, just like you can
deny the fact that the sun rose this morning, and you can deny the fact that there
are stars in the sky-- there are technical explanations that will cause you to
redefine your terms, but in the end-- the truths are self-evident.
Most people who are aware of real magic either practise it as a
(please forgive the umbrella term) "pagan",
or even as a darker practitioner of sorts
-- or are people who are aware of these people.
I've met very few who are aware of the the deepest, truest, oldest magic, though.
The magic of art. The power that the arts have over human emotion.
Writing, visual art, dancing, music, and architecture-- these are the five most powerful magics of which I know (writing and architecture being the two youngest).
I think it's funny how often magic is taken for granted in our world. Its meaning has been so twisted through inappropriate, ignorant, and over-use, that we basically pretend it only exists in fantasy-- much like we pretend conspiracies only exist in fictional intrigue.
You know, there was a time when ash and blood paintings on a cave wall would make a person's heart stir. They could incite excitement, fear, pain, or wonder.
Today, we've come a long way from the cave-painting. Now we have digitally-enhanced, high-tech, optical-illusory 3D, complete with an obscenely over-priced popcorn
and soft drink, if we like.
The medium may seem to upgrade, but the evocation (magic) stays the same. The only significant difference between films and those cave paintings, is that we now bring all of the arts together. A film may have exquisite dancers (e.g. Fame!), amazing buildings (e.g. Infinite Space); but it certainly WILL also have writers, music, and aesthetically-pleasing visuals. That comes together to make a pretty powerful effect.
Why do I call it magic? Mostly, due to the way it affects our emotions. It often happens without our even realizing it. I mean, sometimes it's obvious, like when we go to an awesome martial-arts flick, we get out, and suddenly feel like we could fight an army of bad-guys; or when we go to a tear-jerker,
and come out with moist cheeks and blurry eyes.
Other times, however, the effect is much more subtle; and it's not precisely the same effect on everyone. You can't simply expose any random two people to the same exact stimulus, and expect them to have the same exact reaction; in science, when your variables are the same, you expect the same reaction. Of course, humans are an ever-changing variable, so this is hardly a precise comparison, but you get the idea.
The art stirs our emotions; our emotions influence our thoughts; our thoughts determine our actions; and our actions change the world. Therefore, art changes the world. It is this power to create change, that I call "magic". One day, someone may create the science that demystifies exactly how each art influences us psychologically, and so they'll claim, "It is no magic, it's simply applied sciences!"
It won't change the fact, however, that there is no one "right" way to do it. That's the great thing about art; it affects everyone differently, and it can be made according to no rules whatsoever. We like to apply rules to everything to make them seem more comfortable, predictable, and therefore less scary-- but just as there is a science (rules) to making a good pot of tea, there are no rules to dictate who will enjoy which flavours the best. Nature does not judge whether one type of tea leaf is better than another; it grows each with equal proliferation, based on the manner in which it evolved. It is the magic of flavour and personal taste which will determine the "best" tea in an individual's mind.
It is important, then, that we are aware of magic; because whehter or not we believe in it-- whether or not we call it "magic"-- it continues to have the power to influence us; it continues to be wielded by others for our benefit or harm.
Perhaps as you go forward, consider the power of the magic you take in from each medium. How is it affecting your emotions as you experience it? What is the lingering effect it has on you throughout the rest of the day? Is it making you angry? Does it make you sad? Does it spur your drive? Does it make you want to give up?
I once asked a famous musician, "What do you think is the role of magic in our world?"
He replied simply, "It's profound."
And he was right.