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How Magic vs Technology Make for Interesting Stories
Sunfire
CONTENTS
The Premise
Nearly all works regardless of the medium used explore themes. Many focus on just one or several but there are some that examine contrasting themes such as peace and war. Diving into opposing themes highlights the natural tension that occurs within them and nowhere is this more evident than in magic vs technology.
Magic and technology are two polar opposites. On one side, people eschew technology, preferring to rely on magic to help them in their everyday lives as well as getting them around. On the other side, people use tech to assist them as they go about their daily lives. In both cases, they depend on one thing that serves as the foundation in which the world they call home operate.
The reason why magic vs technology is great to take a look at is that they illustrate two wholly different ways of living. One is more attuned to nature and the natural order of the world whereas the other uses man-made devices and contraptions and resides in an environment dominated by machines. This is an extension of the nature vs industry that is explored in many works across the genre.
The reason why those works that feature these themes is that it can also serve as a turning point in history. It showcases how the world is progressing beyond what people knew and were comfortable with, evident in more people choosing to use machines instead of magic, believing they were more efficient than magic.
An important dimension of examining magic vs technology is how it impacts people. This leads to two camps taking shape and can present a compelling story as both sides vie for supremacy not just in the plot but in the world as well. This clash of opinions can cause longstanding alliances to break down beyond repair and give rise to new ones.
This is article number ten in the various kinds of magic series. If you want to see what else we have, you can find many more on our blog page!
The Inherent Tension of Magic vs Technology
Magic vs technology is fascinating to explore in that they represent two opposing forces at work. As such, there is a natural tension since it is difficult, if not impossible, for the two to coexist. That means at some point, one side will come out on top.
The former relies on the natural talent of individuals to use their abilities in their lives. Whether it be summoning objects from afar, teleporting to other areas, or instantly repairing broken objects, magic is their friend, helping them out in so many different ways. The power of magic enables people to finish many things faster.
With the latter, people incorporate machines in everyday situations. It could be using a car to travel to work, watching television to unwind after a long day at work, or even calling someone on the phone to chat about things. These machines make it so that people can accomplish things without having to use manual labor which gives them more time and energy to do the things they want to do.
The tension of magic vs technology showcases two wholly different worlds, making it hard for the two to coexist. Not everyone is capable of using magic since it is a gift granted only to a select few, meaning those that don’t have it must rely on something else to help them as they journey through life. On the other side, not everyone wants to use machines, considering them an aberration of the natural order since they are not considered part of it.
Magic is more nature-oriented in that it is found in every environment of the worlds it appears in, from the snowy mountains to the depths of the forest. Technology and machines are more industry-focused, serving to create identical products at the expense of tarnishing pristine landscapes.
How Magic vs Technology Reflects a Changing World
This is commonly used to showcase how the world is changing. As the world changes, so do people’s attitudes and way of thinking. It is more evident, especially when an era of history is coming to a close.
The former in magic vs technology is associated with yesteryear, a period of time in which more people dwelled in towns and hamlets than in the big cities of the world. These people were more likely to believe in spirits and ghosts than their modern equivalents and believed that magic alone was the answer to all of their problems. A sick child could be cured instantly, tattered clothes could be made whole once again, and so on.
Technologically-minded people considered machines a sign of progress and the future. They gave more people more opportunities to do what they wanted. They could buy ovens to use for their restaurants, use cars for delivery services, and etc. In short, they could do more without having to rely on manual labor which was time-consuming and expended far too much energy for them to be able to pursue their dreams.
In worlds that both appear in, magic is seen as on its way out, as there are less and less people capable of wielding it. With magic fading, people need to find another way to do what they need to do and that’s where machines come in. Technology makes it so that just about everyone can use them — provided they learn how to work them — which can help them attain a better life that they otherwise couldn’t with their lack of magic.
Magic users view technology as a threat to their way of life, a life that has existed for untold millennia. They see them encroaching upon the world they’ve known that was largely dictated by nature and the four seasons. They cannot help but feel gloom as it seems like they are being left behind as machines become more widespread throughout the world simply due to the convenience they offer people.
The Impact Magic vs Technology Has on People
With how useful magic and technology are, it isn’t surprising that it can cause strong feelings for the ones who use them the most. This can provide riveting storytelling in that creators can really delve into why they feel the way they do and how they go about it.
Magic vs technology generates fierce debate on both sides, especially at a time when the world is undergoing a significant change. This is exemplified most when one period of history is coming to its end as the world prepares to enter its next era. In many worlds, magic is slowly being replaced by machines since it is fading away which can make those who still practice it apprehensive about facing an uncertain future.
For wizards and other magic users, the most outspoken urge a return to how things once were though some are more likely to form their own worlds or communities. The former is the most vocal and members of this group continually appeal to other people about the world they all knew growing up and how they don’t want to lose it. Some may adopt extreme tactics such as sabotaging machines or finding other ways to limit their effectiveness with the aims of persuading others that magic is better to technology.
On the other side of the magic vs technology debate, those who believe the latter is the way forward champion the idea that it gives far more people access to opportunities they previously didn’t have before which is one of its most powerful arguments, one the other side has a hard time dealing with adequately. Supporters argue that technology is more equality-oriented in that far more people benefit from it due to the fact that not everyone was born with magical powers. All they have to do is learn how to work it and they’ll be golden.
Technologically-minded people argue that it raises output while minimizing input. In other words, people can do more using less. They show how useful they are and what they can do which can easily sway people over to their side, considering that everyone wishes they had more time to do what they want.
Tying it all Together
The magic vs technology debate appears in all media across the fantasy genre. It showcases two opposing forces at work, competing for supremacy in the worlds they are in. It also shows two wholly different societies, some of which are simply incompatible with each other in some worlds.
Magic-oriented worlds are more in tune with nature, taking their cues from the environment and the seasons. People in these worlds are born with powers to levitate objects, instantly teleport to another place, and so on. Technologically-dominant worlds are full of machines that do a lot of things for people such as cleaning dishes, keeping food nice and gold, among others. Using machines frees up time for people to pursue their goals and dreams.
The two sides come into sharp focus when an era of history is coming to an end. In this case, magic is the one that is being supplanted by the other due to the ever-growing number of machines being adopted and used by more and more people who just weren’t born with it. It highlights how not just the world is changing but so are the attitudes of the people living in it.
When it comes to the magic vs technology debate, there is no right answer since the two come with their pros and cons, both of which are highlighted by both their supporters and opponents. This can generate fierce debate as both sides clamor that theirs is superior than the other.
If you’re planning to create a story that features both magic and technology, showing how the two are at odds with each other is a superb way to dive deep into this theme that is prevalent in many works within the genre.
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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