Reflection

I have been performing close-up card magic and learning about sustainability and climate change for four years. I started integrating climate change education into my magic routines last year when a friend and I conducted a virtual free magic show tour (https://www.louyangmagic.com). From my experience, when I presented the information in a “magical” way, I received better engagement and comprehension of the information than if I were to present a regular slideshow. When I discovered this challenge’s prompt, I realized that humor also had a similar effect in creating engagement in comparison to the serious facts that are commonly presented when regarding climate change. Thus, I was immediately intrigued and excited to see what I could do to combine all three. When writing the script, I drew inspiration from YouTube skits. When choreographing the magic, I relied on the various concepts and skills I developed over time. Since the focus of the prompt was more on the ocean, a side of climate change that I did not thoroughly explore, I was able to learn a lot about the significant role the ocean plays in climate change, as well as how significantly it is being impacted. While researching the rising sea levels, I learned that Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach could soon be submerged; this is a second home to me, as I have visited the island every year for over a decade now. But along with the rising seas, the complex, yet interconnected topics of ocean acidification and extreme weather also emphasized the severity of the issue. I simultaneously presented information and addressed misconceptions while poking fun at the ignorance and greed of major corporations that are contributing the most to climate change.