Formulaic Magic: Difference between revisions
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* '''Giving math a will of its own:''' The mere presence of some mathematical statement on paper or in someone's mind has some effect on its surroundings -- discoverers [[Go Mad From the Revelation|immediately go insane]], or logical reasoning ceases to work in its presence. |
* '''Giving math a will of its own:''' The mere presence of some mathematical statement on paper or in someone's mind has some effect on its surroundings -- discoverers [[Go Mad From the Revelation|immediately go insane]], or logical reasoning ceases to work in its presence. |
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Such "magical math" (or "mathemagic" or "[[Whatevermancy|Mathamancy]]") doesn't have to be connected to any aspect of reality, so it will [[E |
Such "magical math" (or "mathemagic" or "[[Whatevermancy|Mathamancy]]") doesn't have to be connected to any aspect of reality, so it will [[E=MC Hammer|often be rather nonsensical]] as a result. In this way, such math is somewhat related to the [[Numerological Motif]], in which numbers get intrinsic properties. |
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On the flip side, writers will occasionally make [[Ritual Magic|systems of magic]] [[Sufficiently Analyzed Magic|describable through math]], [[Fantastic Science|much like their physical science counterparts]]. This use of math is more readily justified, though usually still not explained in sufficient detail to make mathematical sense. |
On the flip side, writers will occasionally make [[Ritual Magic|systems of magic]] [[Sufficiently Analyzed Magic|describable through math]], [[Fantastic Science|much like their physical science counterparts]]. This use of math is more readily justified, though usually still not explained in sufficient detail to make mathematical sense. |
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== Live Action TV == |
== Live Action TV == |
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* The ''[[ |
* The ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story ''Logopolis'' features a planet where they've developed a branch of mathematics in which the act of performing the calculations changes the fabric of reality. The entire population takes shifts in calculating a never-ending formula that holds the end of the universe at bay. |
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** Bonus points to the Master for destroying an ''entire quarter of the Universe'' by killing a couple of the guys doing the math. |
** Bonus points to the Master for destroying an ''entire quarter of the Universe'' by killing a couple of the guys doing the math. |
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** A more abstract example is seen in the episode "The Shakespeare Code"; the Carrionites use words as magic, like witches, and the Doctor explains this as completely non-magical by comparing it to mathematics on earth; "With the right string of numbers you can split the atom!" Except, of course, that saying the number out loud will not cause an atom to spontaneously divide in two. |
** A more abstract example is seen in the episode "The Shakespeare Code"; the Carrionites use words as magic, like witches, and the Doctor explains this as completely non-magical by comparing it to mathematics on earth; "With the right string of numbers you can split the atom!" Except, of course, that saying the number out loud will not cause an atom to spontaneously divide in two. |
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[[Category:Just for Pun]] |
[[Category:Just for Pun]] |
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[[Category:Formulaic Magic]] |
[[Category:Formulaic Magic]] |
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[[Category:Trope]] |
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