A
MAGICAL VISION
A Magical Vision
spotlights Eugene Burger, a far-sighted
philosopher and magician who is considered
one of the great teachers of the magical
arts. Eugene has spent twenty-five years
speaking to magicians, academics, and the
general public about the experience of magic.
Advocating a return to magic’s shamanistic,
healing traditions, Eugene’s “magic
tricks” seek to evoke feelings of
awe and transcendence, and surpass the Las
Vegas-style entertainment so many of us
visualize when we think of magicians.
Mentors and colleagues
have emerged throughout Eugene’s globe-trotting
career. Among them is Jeff McBride, a recognized
innovator of contemporary magic, and Max
Maven, a one-man-show who performs a unique
brand of “mind magic” to audiences
worldwide. Lawrence Hass created the world’s
first magic program in a liberal arts setting,
where his seminar has attracted an impressive
cast of thinkers and performers.
The film, however, is Eugene’s
journey. It began in 1940s Chicago, a city
already renowned as the center of classic
magic performance. Yale Divinity School
followed, leading Eugene to the world of
Asian mysticism. From there came the creation
of Hauntings, a tribute to the sprit theatre
of the 19th century, and the gore of the
Bizarre Magick movement. Today Eugene’s
performances and lectures draw inspiration
from the mythology of India to the Buddhism
of magical theory.
On this stage, the magicians
and thinkers open doors to an astounding
world, a world that we rarely take time
to see. A Magical Vision
shines a small light on this magnificent
vista.
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