[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 698 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 698

           Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 17, 2018

  Ms. Titus (for herself, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Pocan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form.

Whereas magic is an art form with the unique power and potential to impact the 
        lives of all people;
Whereas magic enables people to experience the impossible, inspire, and bring 
        wonder and happiness to others;
Whereas magic has been used to teach self-confidence, build self-discipline, 
        improve interpersonal skills, and stimulate curiosity and creativity;
Whereas magic has had a significant impact on other art forms;
Whereas magic, like the great art forms of dance, literature, theater, film, and 
        the visual arts, allows people to experience something that transcends 
        the written word;
Whereas many technological advances, such as robotics and projection mapping, 
        can be directly traced to the influential work of magicians;
Whereas futurist Arthur C. Clarke claimed that any sufficiently advanced 
        technology is indistinguishable from magic;
Whereas one of the greatest artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, was inspired 
        by magic and cowrote one of the very first books on magic in the late 
        15th century;
Whereas modern cinema would not exist today without the innovative work of the 
        accomplished magician Georges Melies;
Whereas magic is an outstanding artistic model of individual expression and 
        visual storytelling;
Whereas magic is a unifying force across cultural, religious, ethnic, and age 
        differences in our diverse Nation;
Whereas magic performances support thousands of jobs and entertain visitors from 
        around the world;
Whereas the American magicians Harry Houdini and David Copperfield have been the 
        most successful magicians of the past two centuries;
Whereas David Copperfield, introduced to magic as a boy growing up in New 
        Jersey, has been named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress;
Whereas David Copperfield, with 21 Emmy Awards, 11 Guinness World Records, and 
        over $4,000,000,000 in ticket sales, has impacted every aspect of the 
        global entertainment industry;
Whereas programs such as Project Magic, created by David Copperfield, use magic 
        as a form of therapy for children and adults with physical, 
        psychological, and social disabilities;
Whereas magicians in communities across the United States, like Mayor Eric Hogue 
        of Wylie, Texas, use magic to teach elementary school students about the 
        roles and responsibilities of local government;
Whereas magic has not been properly recognized as an American art form, nor has 
        it been accorded the institutional status on a national level 
        commensurate with its value and importance;
Whereas intellectual rights and protection of magic methods created and 
        developed by individuals should be recognized and protected by our 
        courts;
Whereas documentation and archival support required for this great art form have 
        yet to be systematically applied to the field of magic; and
Whereas it is in the best interest of the national welfare to preserve and 
        celebrate the unique art form of magic: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes magic as a rare and valuable art form; and
            (2) supports efforts to make certain that magic is 
        preserved, understood, and promulgated.
                                 <all>