Keeping Secrets

Magic is an exclusive art. It is an art, to be sure. Art has the following definitions, thanks to Google:

• the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
• the creation of beautiful or significant things
• a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation
• artwork: photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication

Magic does indeed fit these criteria. Through individual connotation, one may find that magic is not an art to some - but to me it is. And it is exclusive, for a limited number of apprentices are properly taken on and educated. A mentor is what I mean. Kids learning from YouTube nowadays forget the glamour that sleight of hand can create - as well as the loyalty and honor and dignity associated with keeping secrets. When your average run of the mill tween magician exposes things badly on YouTube, you can see this is clearly an issue. But we need to stop catering to their world. Certain things like flashy magic can appeal to the younger generation, thereby causing a motive to reveal - through arrogance and ignorance. Flashy magic serves its purpose only when dignified by a performer who is talented enough in the art of presentation to pull it off. I would rather be the greatest performer in the world and only know two tricks than to know a thousand and be the worst entertainer, a la the famous Devant story. What I'm trying to say is that a level of confidence needs to be taken into consideration - in today's world where forums are prowled upon by kids hoping to find answers and torrents to freely do with them as they wish, and where hard work is ruined by people who are too stupid to think otherwise, perhaps a safekeeping technique wouldn't be too out of place. I find it hilarious that magic is being ruined by one of its most sacred laws: keeping secrets. Magicians should be shrouded in mystery and intrigue - but are being ruined, despite making their material widely available. This is a double edged sword, but maybe the solution is to have a society of trusted magicians who show their true colors - noble ones - consistently, and take them on as fellow practioners and apprentices. I am not a master - far from it - I am simply offering an idea. Let's take back the mystique of magic and stop releasing to the public. This needs to change - and we must before it's too late.

/rant.

Ian