Magic as Medium by Shawn DeSouza-Coelho

Magic as Medium was written by Shawn DeSouza-Coelho and published by THE NEAT REVIEW. From the publisher:

Magic as Medium is an introduction to linguistics, semiotics, phenomenology and the meaning of art, all through the lens of magic and theatre. It explores the space between the ideal and the real. It prods at the moment of astonishment.

Magic has been relegated to the seemingly permanent status of light entertainment, dwelling on the fringes of other, more legitimate art forms. Its profound beauty and affective power eclipsed in the eyes of its audiences, magic does not seem to offer an audience the transcendence that art does… but why not?

For the typography, Callin Mackintosh made early use of Affairs by SM Foundry, paired with Lars Mono from Bold Decisions. Illustration by Jordy van den Nieuwendijk.