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Syllabus | MAS S65: Indistinguishable From… Magic as Interface, Technology, and Tradition

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When Aleister Crowley defined magic as “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will,” he might as easily have been describing technology. In fact, “magic” is still the word we use to encompass the wonders of a new technology before it becomes ubiquitous. From Neolithic ceremonies to Las Vegas stage shows, “magic” describes a long tradition of using technology, ritual, and performance to create wonder. As 21st century technologists there’s still a lot we can learn from this tradition. Engineering illusions requires close attention to the limits of human perception, disciplined practice of the art of showmanship, and subtle use of the crafts of deception — skills that are just as relevant to contemporary technology demos as they were to 19th century stage illusions. Further, magic is one of the central metaphors people use to understand the technology we build. From install wizards to voice commands and background daemons, the cultural tropes of magic permeate

MAS.S65: Indistinguishable From… Magic as Interface, Technology, and Tradition Instructors: Dan Novy , V. Michael Bove , and Marco Tempest Meeting Time: Tuesdays - 2:30PM - 4:30PM - E15-443a SPRING TERM 2016 - (Feb. 2 through May 10) -12 Units - H Level 0-12-0 Course Description: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Clarke's Third Law "Any sufficiently debased magic is indistinguishable from technology." - Rowling's Corollary "Everything you can think of is true." - Tom Waits When Aleister Crowley defined magic as "the Science and Art of causing Chan

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