There’s been some discussion about the lack of interest in bizarre and how it’s on the path to destruction. I take umbrage with that. Some of us have been evangelizing bizarre long before they were even in the picture. Funny because the discussion is happening in this group which is the largest gathering of bizarrists and those with a true interest in learning to do it in all of history. And more people join every day from around the world. I’ve been luring people into the darkness for 40 years myself and many others like my friend Robin DeWitt was evangelizing for much longer. So to suggest that nothing is happening ignores living in the riches that exist now because others have been working on this since the inception of Bizarre.
When I started using the internet there was no Google but when we’d search on Alta Vista there was practically nothing on the subject except for Michael Fraughton, who became a quick friend. Everything else consisted of the manual Shadow Network which became an email list serve. Robin got me into that. I staked some places early on in the internet, writing the first articles about Bizarre Magick on Wikipedia and defending them against fascist editors for years. Eventually they were folded into the Magic Project on Wikipedia. My articles on bizarre became the basis for what arrived on Magicpedia and a myriad of other sites that reposted Wikipedia material.
I started the first Bizarre Magick group on facebook, tried on other social media but facebook won out as the best for attracting members, easiest posting with multimedia and to stage events. I curate everyone that enters to ensure everyone is here who are truly interested and to ensure kindness and freedom in posting. Moderators only intervene if absolutely needed, unlike the “green board” that has no respect for its posters and constantly and anally edits, deletes and moves things among its 20,000 subgroups.
I have a killer website in reserve for when I have some free time to build a resource for the community. But that’s another story…
But many hands make light the work. I am but one person (despite what the voices in my head may claim). Many others have been working to build the path into darkness longer than me. We all stand on the shoulders of giants, that is why we can see as far as we can today. They are the ones that lit the fire 🔥 in our belly for this dark art. And it our duty to light other fires 🔥. Bizarre Magick isn’t going anywhere. It will outlast all of us and continue to grow.
I don’t think Bizarre Magick has or will ever need a concise definition. This has been discussed repeatedly for as long as I’ve been around. Here are some things I know:
Bizarre Magick is Magic turned to 11.
It is the art of taking literally anything and creating a truly magical experience.
It is performing magic as if it were real.
Bizarre Magick is alchemy but there is no right or wrong formula.
Each bizarrist is unique and is not a commodity and should not be marketed that way.
Bizarre Magick pays attention to the importance of every detail: all the five senses, the staging, the script, the blocking, the background story, the subtext, the lighting, the sound.
Bizarre Magick is constant and never ending improvement as an artist.
Originally posted in the Bizarre Magick Facebook group.
