The Universal Allures of Magic
In the Philippines, we have our own folk logic.
You know, the kind of thinking of unknown origins but reflecting traditional social values. It usually lacks affectation and sophistication but has wide acceptance among common people.
Today, I will exercise my Pinoy folk logic to unravel a great mystery, namely, why the art of magic holds a universal appeal.
Rap music may have a strong following among the youngsters in the US and the adolescent generation in other parts of the world heavily influenced by American culture. But the 50-somethings who love Frank Sinatra and the Beatles will find it junk.
Ballet may enthrall the aristocrats of Europe and the elite of our society but it will bore to tears the hip-hopping, break-dancing, graffiti painting teenagers.
Other art forms simply don’t have the same visual impact and emotional allure to a cross-section of society.
Magic, however, achieves a near universal appeal. Except for people who hate magic (especially card tricks), the rest of the earth’s population love our art.
Now re-read that claim. That statistical statement is as accurate as “Half of married men and women are men and the other half are women.”
When David Blaine did the Balducci Levitation on national TV, the reaction on the streets of America was”He floated!” It was a reaction that resonated throughout the world. All manner of men and women on the planet echoed the exclamation “He floated!” in their respective languages.
My bias notwithstanding, that same universal reaction cannot be said of other performing arts.
What brings about magic’s universal appeal? you might ask.
Here’s my theory:
Magic is the earthling’s universal language. Not English, nor Chinese nor French, but magic.
Anywhere in the world, magic is written and pronounced almost in the same strokes and sounds, no matter in what language it is written or said.
Here are a few examples:
Croatian – magija
Czech – magie
Danish – magi
Dutch – magisch
English – magic
Finnish – magic
French – magie
German – magie
Italian – magia
Norwegian – magi
Polish – magic
Portuguese – mágica
Romanian – magie
Spanish – magia
Swedish -magi
Notice the similarities?
In the Philippines, we say “madyik” or “mahika“. If we want to sound important, we say “salamangka“.
Even in non-Western style of writing, the word “magic” still maintains its universal consistency. Common, guys, use your imagination. If you can peek a Center Tear, you should be able to see the word “magic” woven in those otherwise inscrutable characters. (You should see it, otherwise my theory will not be valid. Help me on this.)
Arabic – سحر
Bulgarian – магия
Chinese – 魔术
Greek – μαγικός
Hindi – जादू
Japanese – マジック
Korean – 마술
Russsian – волшебство
My strongest argument to buttress my claim of magic’s universal appeal is the Elmsley Count. Go ahead, say it in any language you want. Except in Transylvania (where they say Count Elmsley) or in one part of Manila (where they say Elsmley Clown), Japanese, Mexicans, Americans, Filipinos, heck, all manner of men and women of all races and nationalities say Elmsley Count.
I rest my case.
Stay magical,
Leodini
