Focuses are science, magic or magic?

Focuses - this is an entertaining and witty rebus, which the viewer has to solve in a split second. Because the law of the genre requires speed, instantness. The public does not have time to comprehend what they saw. One magic follows another, and it seems that the customary and established world order collapses under the pressure of successive incredible transformations.

The first tricks (Ancient Egypt)

Rocks on the banks of the Nile and cut down in them around 1260 BC. E. The temple of Abu Simbel ... It can be considered the first illusionary device that is known to people. Twice a year, on his birthday and on the day of his accession to the throne, Pharaoh Ramses II appeared in it. Mysterious atmosphere, hundreds of people in anticipation of a miracle, temple priests read ancient spells and magic formulas. They call upon the sun to break through the clouds and reveal to the people of Pharaoh. And a miracle happens. At the right time, as if obeying the priests, the oblique sunbeam pierces the opening of the narrow door, penetrates into the low and dark room and illuminates the figure of the ruler in the darkness.

So the ceremony was described by ancient papyri. The answer to this mystery was found by researchers of ancient civilization only in the twentieth century. Prehistoric architects knew exactly where and in which time on the days of the ceremony the solar disk would rise. They were able to orient the doors of the temple according to the movement of the sun through which the ray penetrated into the room and room in which Ramses II was. The effect of this illusion was stunning - the subjects sincerely believed that the luminary itself indicates the ruler.

This historical fact can give one of the possible answers to the question: "What is the focus?" Perhaps it is the use of accumulated knowledge to achieve the desired result! Such an answer is quite possible.

Manipulators of Ancient Greece

The mystical illusions of the priests could not go unnoticed. In ancient Greece magicians appeared during the Greco-Persian wars. But they showed their art not in temples, but in fairgrounds. Surprisingly, in the writings of Alkifron's grammar and rhetorician (3rd century AD) there is a mention of the trick that has survived to this day. In his book, he describes how a wandering magician placed three cups on the table and laid three pebbles. Incredibly, the stones moved - they were under one cup, then disappeared and were in the mouth of a magician. And after that they completely disappeared, but the illusionist began to get them out of pockets, ears or hair of spectators. The audience laughed and was surprised at the agility of the performer, because the tricks are, first of all, a witty and entertaining performance.

The illusion between science and charlatanry

The development of illusionary art in medieval Europe went hand in hand with completely scientific experiments. Nobody has distinguished where the magic and quackery, and where experiments in the field of chemistry or optics. This involved many famous people, whose names have survived to this day. The famous astrologer and fortuneteller Michel Nostradamus (1503-1566) did not hesitate to show tricks. This, of course, strengthened the degree of its impact on the public who was pandemic to miracles and mysterious phenomena. There is a description of the optical experience that the great mystic demonstrated. Through the opening panel in the ceiling, assistants lowered the doll down, and then it was lifted back and the hatch was closed. The audience watched it through a narrow crack in the wall, into which a triangular transparent prism was mounted. It gave an "inverted" effect. It seemed that the doll rises from below and disappears there. Then the audience was admitted into the room, and they inspected the floor. But it was made of stones, I and any secret hatches in it were absent.

Reflection in works of art

The popularity of illusive shows has become so wide in the Middle Ages that many writers and artists could not ignore this topic. They reflected in their work some moments containing elements of sorcery or tricks. Science, magic or art - it is difficult to give a short definition of this phenomenon. But in the well-known classical works one can see their influence on medieval culture.

Dutch artist Peter Bruegel the Elder (circa 1525-1569) in one of his paintings depicted the overthrow of the magician from the throne. Stray artists were depicted on the canvas in the guise of devils. Another Dutchman, Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516), in his work also turned to the image of stray magicians, magicians and sorcerers.

A connoisseur of medieval culture Goethe (1749-1832) in his Faust also paints magical paintings of the Middle Ages. A wine that gushes from the table and lights up, freed from the fetters of Margarita. Headed off, carrying his severed head in his hands. All of these tricks were the basis for the repertoire of artists showing tricks. What is their secret and attraction for so long? Apparently, in the desire of people to penetrate into the mystery and ineradicable faith in miracles.

Penetration into Russia

The first serious illusions in Russia took place with the participation of foreign guest performers. They were held in the largest theaters of the time. In Moscow, it was the site of the Maly Theater, and in St. Petersburg, foreign illusions were shown on the stage of the Alexander Theater. By this time illusory art was transformed. It began to widely use the technical innovations of that time. The days are past, when the lot of magicians and sorcerers were cheap fair shows. In all available ways, they led the audience to the idea that tricks are serious.

Foreign touring in Russia

Particularly rich in the demonstration in Russia, such views were the nineteenth century. Many of the artists were real great masters of their genre.

Karl Hermann is a representative of the famous family of European magicians. He was artistic, during the screenings he joked and turned spectators into his assistants. At the same time, he was one of the first to use large illusion equipment. In his repertoire was the trick "Boy in the Air" - the performer leaned his hand against a long pole. At the same time, his legs were torn from the ground. At the request of spectators from the same bottle, the artist poured various drinks - then milk to champagne.

Karl Mekgold, who arrived on tour to Moscow, won the audience so much that the newspapers of that time compared him to Schiller and Mozart in his art. In the hands of the artist, the copper coin turned into a frog, which, in turn, became a canary. The audience gave the artist scarves, watches, ornaments. All these items were in a violin that hung on the wall in a closed case.

The spirits and magician Bartolomeo Bosco have conquered the discerning audience. His ideas of Egyptian magic caused a flurry of enthusiastic responses. The actor himself appeared in front of the audience in a sleeveless suit. All the props used by him were extremely simple - open tables on thin legs, the lack of tablecloths in which you could hide something. It seemed that the objects really disappear and appear, obeying the artist's desire. The audience agreed in unanimous opinion that Bosco's experiments (tricks) demonstrated magic.

The first Russian magicians

Russian magicians did not lag behind foreign colleagues. History has kept the names of some of them. In 1828, behind Rogozhskaya Gate there was an arena for baiting the animals. There was a certain Karasev speaking - he showed "extraordinary mechanical experiments". Under the supervision of spectators, the performer hid in the box a manual chronometer, but he disappeared. On the spot the bird appeared. The decoration hidden in the same box was in the viewer's pocket.

In another amphitheater, at the Tver Gate, the magician Solovyov performed. In the playbill, he called himself "fireproof man." His experiences (tricks) were associated with fire.

In 1835, the former mechanic Nikulin showed his magical performance on the stage of the Maly Theater in Moscow. A skilled master, he used in his shows a lot of self-made illusion devices. And information about the performance of such Russian conjurers as Kuparenko, Vasily Korchagin and Ivan Martin was also received in the same years.

Although it is important to note that the public was more coldly aware of the speeches of homegrown Russian artists than the performances of their foreign colleagues. The dictionaries of the Russian language reflect the attitude to this art form in Russia through the meaning of the word "focus" - buffoonery, hassle, deception.

In the Soviet period

No doubt, the most powerful development was illusory art in the Soviet Union. New illusion rides and small numbers were created. Gradually, the catchy foreign names that the Russian magicians traditionally took for themselves have become a thing of the past. Changed and the very attitude to the artists, and understanding what is the focus. The magical and mystical background of this phenomenon has remained in the past. The best representatives of the genre seemed to invite viewers into the game and said: "Now you will be deceived, but you can uncover this deception."

Among these masters are the famous illusionist E. T. Kio, the first Soviet illusionist woman, Cleo Dorothy (Claudia Karasik). Anatoly Sokol brilliantly continued the tradition of using technical novelties in illusion. Otar Ratiani created the original attraction "Invisible Man" based on the novel by H. Wells. Another masterpiece of the illusionary score of the Soviet circus is "Water Fairy" by Ilya Simvolkov. And in the final of Anatoly Shag-Novozhilov's speech, a whole field of rye-rye and people's dances appeared on the circus arena. The artists of the Soviet circus not only showed tricks - they developed their art, made it social and topical.

Miracles do not end there.

So what is the appeal of the tricks? Magic with their own hands can make everyone - apparently, this is their popularity and longevity. After all, it is not necessary to become a professional artist-wizard. A large number of available literature makes it possible to master simple but spectacular stunts. Yes, and a major props for this will not be required - a deck of cards, a handkerchief, several coins or balls. And the astonished eyes of the audience, like a time machine, are able to move the performer to the millennia deep into the centuries. After all, the ancient Egyptians watched the miracles taking place in the temple of Pharaoh Ramses in 1260 BC.