[Opinion] Taking Magic Higher

In Algeria under French rule in the 1850s, Marabout, a mystic Muslim group, used the power of magic to spark a national liberation movement. Under the leadership of Joras Alkatim, Marabout captured the hearts of many countrymen by achieving feats like swallowing pieces of glass and healing wounds by touching them with their hands. The Algerians were ready to revolt at the word of Marabout. Napoleon III, who ruled over France at the time, decided to follow Marabout’s example instead of trying to crush the resistance with force.

A magician sent to Algeria in 1856 showed off many breathtaking magic tricks at a theater in the capital of Algeria. One of the venues was picking candy off a plate endlessly. He also invited a strong man from the audience to lift a wooden box placed on the stage. He effortlessly lifted the box. The magician cast a spell on the man and gestured for him to try again. No matter how hard he tried, he could not even move the box this time. After this incident, the magical powers of Marabout were not as influential on the Algerian population.

This magician was Robert Houdin (1805-1871), who is dubbed, “the father of contemporary magic.” Houdin, who started out as a watch crafter in his youth, was good with machines and applied his skills to magic. He was the first person to involve electricity in magic. As the first magician to showcase his tricks on stage in front of endless crowds, he was also the first to wear a dazzling black tuxedo, instead of dressing up as a clown. His feat of quelling an Algerian revolution beforehand is, however, far greater than any magic trick.

The new-generation magician Lee Eun-gyeol (25) won the first place prize in the “general magic” part of the International Federation of Magic Societies (FISM) World Magic Championships 2006. He changed Korean magic history. Besides having handsome looks and cool tricks, he has developed a style of his own by always pursuing a story within his magic. To quote his words, it is “magic with a soul and not just trickery.” While Houdin stopped an uprising in the making, Lee gives a pleasant jolt to the generation that has all but forgotten fantasy.

Chung Seong-hee, Editorial Writer, shchung@donga.com