One of the most stigmatized, popular games in existence is “Magic the Gathering.” Yes, it’s a fantasy role-playing game that includes wizards, spells, creatures, and monsters that is created for … adults. But bear with me! It’s far more interesting and relevant than one would believe…
In order to explain the artistic aspect of this card game, I will cover some of the history and basic rules. It’s a trading card game that was published in 1993 and is played by two players. Each game represents a battle between wizards (the two players) who use creatures, spells, and more, all depicted on their cards, in order to kill the other opponent (think pokemon). There are organized tournaments, a world championship, and local games. It’s a complicated and strategic game that requires a sharp mind but is equally as fun and exciting. You need to be able to devise strategies, think ahead, read the other player, and think quickly!
Now, there is a certain aspect to the game that is almost as popular as the game itself: Magic the Gathering artwork.
Magic the Gathering (MtG) is also known for its incredible artwork that is displayed on everything from its cards to its accessories. There is even a book that was published to document the art. There are websites and forums dedicated to posting the art and discussing it. There are over 10,000 cards, each with a unique scene, creature, or object. A secondary market exists for these cards, and are constantly being traded and sold. The art truly brings the game to life. The artistic community for MtG is very exclusive, and only the most intricate and beautiful artwork is accepted. Here are some examples of the artwork:
MtG players are constantly engaged with the whole concept of the game, as evident by the emergence of “altered” cards. Altered cards are MtG cards that people haven changed or added to in order to create a different card – solely for artistic purposes. These cards cannot be used in gameplay but are a creative and interesting addition to the expanding MtG game-world. Some examples of altered cards (left is original, right is altered):
Magic the Gathering has been expanded to more than just a game. Since being introduced in 1993, it’s still in it’s growth phase; the dedicated fan-base continues to add more and more people. Business-wise, the brand is rumored to never have had a decrease in sales since it’s introduction. The whole concept is strange; it’s a very rare example of physical media thriving in a dominating digital age.
Operas, a drama set to music, originated in Italy and have been around since the 16th century. This art form has spread to many countries and changed accordingly. Georges Bizet, a French composer of the romantic era, wrote Carmen. The first production took place in Paris in 1875. It was not received very well, but we can understand this; in 1875, the French audience were considerably conservative, so Carmen was shocking. Today, we have been exposed to more “liberal” forms of media, so our reactions were quite different then theirs.
Just seeing all the energy the audience had before the show actually created high expectations for me. Also, getting to know the story line, characters, and music beforehand made me look forward to seeing it all put together.
For instance, when the aria Habanera began, I was pleasantly surprised to hear how much better it sounded live! Personally, it is something I have heard time and time again which makes it all the more special to hear it being played and sung live.
The story line was relatively easy to follow, and the actors’ emotions really showed. Regardless, the English subtitles truly helped. I’m sure translating the opera takes away from the overall performance but it’s worth it to understand the story more in depth.
One of the more interesting aspects that stood out for me was the impression of grandeur the entire experience portrayed. Everything was spacious, large, classic, and full of lighting and royal colors. It gives you a sense of humility, as if you are here to experience something profound that you will only get to see once in a lifetime. The entrance was grand, the stage was large, and the actors’ voices were powerful. This impression contributed to my enjoyment of the overall opera and I would love to see another one if I have the opportunity.
Judging by everyone’s (myself included) continued humming/singing of the music in the opera, I believe the music left the most lasting impression on us. Personally, I have heard this music many times, so it was a pleasure hearing it all again live. Actually, I remember being exposed to the opera when I was a child in an old television show: Hey Arnold! If anyone remembers this episode, the children in the show actually played the different characters in Carmen. The same music is played but the lyrics are different. Below is a short clip:
Habanera sung by the Hey Arnold! characters:
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