Back in the dim pre-history human civilization when our ancestors all ran around looking for nuts and berries and whatever they could catch, magic played a big role. Family or tribal shaman studied hard to explain the unexplainable to their followers.
The best I've run across is the painting or scratching of human figures or animals on cave walls (good examples exist today in the caves at Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain).
Some unknown shaman, possibly possessing the Hollywood gene, likely lined up his followers on the cave floor in front of the carvings, scratchings or paintings. Perhaps with drums pounding to distract the audience and to cover the sound of his feet, the shaman would carry a torch while running behind the crowd. As he ran, the shadows on the wall would appear to move thus creating possibly the planet's first light and sound show.
Magic and sophisticated magicians flourished in tribal groups all around the world for millennia as man started ascending the evolutionary ladder to tomorrow. By the time the so-called feudal age emerged, magicians got top billing in the courts of King Arthur and other bastions of royalty. Merlin is a household name -- even to this day. The best known magician in Arabia was probably the mythical boy Aladdin, whose fame eventually spread to Europe and North America. From an Omanian seaport where I stopped for lunch two years ago, Sinbad and his Arab confreres sailed forth on mythical and magical marine adventures.
With new technologies during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, magicians became more in demand. Even showing a flashlight briefly brought forth cries of "astounding". Pouring clear water into vases where the clear liquid turned red, then white and then blue was considered, if not true magic, at least very magical. In America it was also very patriotic. The emerging media of the 20th century allowed personal fame in this small specialty to spread far and wide and repeatedly in every village visited by the "star magician". Hypnotists like Raveen grew out of the magic of performing mysterious feats. The 20th century also created science fiction magicians. They wrote about it and it happened. Sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke with his movie, 2001, A Space Odyssey, became a magician well before that in 1945 when he anticipated we would see man-made satellites orbiting in the sky. Up to that point, the moon was the only game in the galaxy anywhere near us at the time. Now look!
The dawn of the third millennium is offering its own magic, mostly technology based. It's no secret that the highly adept in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are called computer wizards.
Brazilian artist Edwuardo Kac's (pronounced "cats") (see Dr T's. Digital Diary, page #9) attracts attention just walking down the street -- holding his green, glow-in-the-dark live rabbit named Alba. His magic includes manipulating the genes of live animals! What will they think of next?
Magic materializes in many forms. On the speaking circuit I often feel that just knowing somewhat how the world works seems like magic to some.
Consider bio-technology with its genetic potential including new animals known as chimera that contain the genes of two species; nano-technology the land where molecules and atoms build their own machines; submarines that may fly faster than the Concorde, in a bubble of air!
The list goes on. The world base of knowledge is currently doubling every three to seven years, depending on the industry. Even at this rate, considered conservative by some, by the year 2020 we will have to absorb the equivalent knowledge of a four-year university course every 73 days.
And that's from a much higher base by 2019. To survive, we must discover radical new ways to learn. The World Wide Web may be the new kindergarten.
If our companies our countries and we are not prepared, we will be increasingly vulnerable to conditions beyond our control. We can't be hermits anymore. There are no caves to hide in. We are back to the days of yore where magic reigns supreme.
Open Sesame!
