smaet switch

Magic is a mysterious and captivating art form that has been a source of wonder and enchantment for centuries. It is often associated with illusion and illusionists who use sleight of hand and other techniques to create seemingly impossible tricks and feats. However, there is another kind of magic that exists - the magic of self-belief and determination. In this context, "magic" refers to the ability to achieve extraordinary things through the power of the human mind and spirit. It is the belief that we have within us the potential to overcome any obstacle and achieve our dreams. This kind of magic is not something that can be bought or learned from a book - it comes from deep within our own selves.

This kind of magic is not something that can be bought or learned from a book - it comes from deep within our own selves. But what does it mean to say that "magic must defeat magic"? It means that in order to tap into our own magical abilities, we must first overcome the limited thinking and self-doubt that often hold us back. Just as a magician must defeat the tricks and illusions of others in order to create their own magic, we must defeat the negative thoughts and beliefs that limit our potential.

The subversive messages hidden in The Wizard of Oz

It’s easy to mistake the 1939 classic as traditional family entertainment – but 80 years on from its release, the musical is more radical and surreal than ever, writes Nicholas Barber.

In December 1937, Walt Disney Productions released its first feature-length cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It went on to be cinema’s biggest hit of 1938, a success that not only encouraged Disney to make other fairy-tale cartoons for decades to come, but also encouraged another studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to try its own fantasy musical about an orphaned girl and a wicked witch: The Wizard of Oz.

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But for all of its similarities to the Disney film, MGM’s version was more of an anti-fairy tale than a fairy tale. Just look at the trio of frightened and feeble misfits that accompanies its heroine along the yellow brick road. None of them is what you’d call a handsome prince. In the clanking of the Tin Man’s rusty limbs, you can hear echoes of Don Quixote’s home-made armour. In the trio’s moaning and blubbing as they prepare to sneak into the witch’s castle, you can see a foreshadowing of Westley, Inigo and Fezzik invading Humperdinck’s castle in The Princess Bride. The pig-tailed Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is so wholesome, the Harburg and Arlen songs are so delightful, and the Technicolor adventures are so exciting that it’s still easy to mistake The Wizard of Oz for traditional family entertainment, 80 years on from its release in August 1939. But it upends the conventions of good-v-evil storytelling in ways that would have had Walt Disney fuming.

The film’s Technicolor adventures are so engaging it’s easy to mistake The Wizard of Oz for traditional family entertainment (Credit: Alamy)

In the sepia opening scenes, we are warned that the magic we’re about to see might not be wholly magical. Having run away from her home in Kansas to stop her pet dog Toto being put down, Dorothy meets a travelling clairvoyant named Professor Marvel (Frank Morgan) – a character who isn’t in L Frank Baum’s source novel, but was created by screenwriters Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. As kindly as he is, the professor is a con artist who pretends to be psychic by peeking at a photo Dorothy is carrying. Another film might have contrasted this earthbound huckster with the genuine marvels performed by the wonderful Wizard of Oz, but in this one the wizard is played by the same actor as Professor Marvel, and he turns out to be much the same character: a fast-talking fairground showman who hides behind a curtain, waggling levers, and using mechanical trickery to keep his subjects loyal and afraid. He admits that he ended up in the land of Oz when his hot air balloon was blown there – and even that balloon is beyond his control. In a gloriously gonzo final flourish, he floats off into the sky with a cheerful cry of: “I can’t come back. I don’t know how it works!” There aren’t many films that show politicians being quite as brazenly incompetent as that.

The first step in defeating this self-imposed magic is to recognize that it exists. We must acknowledge the ways in which we sabotage ourselves and limit our own potential. This may involve examining our thoughts, beliefs, and patterns of behavior to uncover the root causes of our self-doubt and limiting beliefs. Once we have identified these obstacles, we can begin to challenge and overcome them. This can be a difficult process, as it often requires facing our fears and stepping outside of our comfort zones. However, by taking small steps and gradually pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limitations, we can begin to dismantle the walls that hold us back. In this journey, it is important to remember that we are not alone. Just as a magician often has a team of assistants and mentors to support and guide them, we too can seek support from others. Whether it be through friends, family, or mentors, having a support system can provide the encouragement and accountability needed to stay on track. Ultimately, the process of defeating our own self-imposed magic is a lifelong journey. It requires continual self-reflection, self-belief, and a willingness to challenge and grow. But by embracing our own magical potential and consistently working towards overcoming our limitations, we can unlock the power within ourselves to achieve extraordinary things..

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