Audiences flock to see the ‘Isawiyya present their rituals at World Fairs, but believe that the magic cannot exist in their society while suspending their belief for the show to be properly entertained. By sending Houdin to try to illegitimatize the magical properties of the ‘Isawiyya, the French actually put emphasis on their belief of the reality of magic. The Algerians were thrust into a unique circumstance where their conquers were not satisfied with supremacy over their people through force, they also had to deal with their conquerors attempting cultural supremacy as well. This attempt of total supremacy brought the idea of magic to the forefront of belief, that magic held key positions in both French and Algerian societies. This is in direct opposition to the enlightenment views of magic the French held, that viewed magic akin to fiction: fun to see and to experience, but ultimately false. By implementing magic in the strategy of cultural domination, the French directly imposed magic’s significance in their own cultural image, showcasing the importance of magic within both cultures
Audiences flock to see the ‘Isawiyya present their rituals at World Fairs, but believe that the magic cannot exist in their society while suspending their belief for the show to be properly entertained. By sending Houdin to try to illegitimatize the magical properties of the ‘Isawiyya, the French actually put emphasis on their belief of the reality of magic. The Algerians were thrust into a unique circumstance where their conquers were not satisfied with supremacy over their people through force, they also had to deal with their conquerors attempting cultural supremacy as well. This attempt of total supremacy brought the idea of magic to the forefront of belief, that magic held key positions in both French and Algerian societies. This is in direct opposition to the enlightenment views of magic the French held, that viewed magic akin to fiction: fun to see and to experience, but ultimately false. By implementing magic in the strategy of cultural domination, the French directly imposed magic’s significance in their own cultural image, showcasing the importance of magic within both cultures