Page 7 Fall 1991
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Juggling
Defined Poetically In
reading some recent letters to the editor it seems that some people do
not understand what juggling is. In "The Whys Of A Philosophical
Scrivener," Martin Gardner cites an anonymous limerick about
life. Substitute "juggling" for "life" and the
limerick reads like this: There
was a young man of Cadiz Who inferred that juggling is what it is, For
he early had learnt If
it were what it weren't It
could not be that which it is.
Roger
Montandon,
Bixby, Oklahoma Magician
Defends His Art I
take "sleight" offense at the statement in "The Academic
Juggler" that, "Unlike magicians, who hide their skill, the
juggler reveals all, yet still performs feats that, to the crowd, are
incomprehensible."
By
definition, magic is the art that conceals art in order to defy the laws
of nature, creating an illusion. The author goes on to say, "It is
magic without deceit, and in the stories individuals with such rare
power (directly over objects and indirectly over minds) are capable of
greatness."
Any
"deceit" in the art of conjuring is used for the legitimate
purpose of creating in the audience a feeling of awe, wonder, amazement
and mystery. Albert Einstein wrote, "The most beautiful emotion
that one can experience is that of the mysterious."
I
love juggling as much as anyone, but also believe in calling a
spade a spade. I think jugglers could use a wee bit more imagination,
employ some of the same effects as magicians, and come up with some
really good effects. Have fun! The
Academic Juggler's author, Arthur Lewbel, responds: "It was not
my intention to insult magicians, but rather to observe that juggling
can generate the same sense of awe and wonder without trickery, and that
this is a valuable goal for performers |