Magical RealismMs. Randall

CP English 2B

“Light is Like Water”

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History of the concept

In 1925, Franz Roh described forthcoming German art as “New Objectivity”

“New Objectivity” was strikingly different than “German Expressionism”

“German Expressionism” “New Objectivity”

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Its function within art

• Became an escape from the harsh realities of the time period; however, the consciousness of the reality was still very much present.

• Blended somewhat magical elements to create a realistic atmosphere that accesses a deeper understanding of reality.

• Latin American writers, who traveled all over Europe, searching for inspiration, were exposed to this artwork, took it back to Latin America, applied it to Literature, and coined it “Magical Realism.”

“Schoolroom”

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Definition: a term hard to define

MAGICAL : beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.

REALISM : the quality or fact of representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life.

MAGICAL REALISM : a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy. A mixture of realistic and fantastic elements.

It is a term that is more so easily applied to art, than to literature.

Many critics argue that the idea of Magical Realism is simply an extension of Fantasy, or Science Fiction. I, however, disagree.

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What Magical Realism is not

FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION

Imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure that usually takes place in a setting other than the real world. It relates to things which are more so impossible, rather than improbable.

• Fiction that is mostly on imagined or future scientific or technological advances. Science Fiction’s core usually derives off of social or environmental changes that frequently portraying space, time, or life on another planet.

• Harry Potter• The Princess Bride• Lord of the Rings• King Kong

• Star Wars• Star Trek• Jurassic Park• Incredible Hulk

Magical Realism incorporates the thought of magic into real, common, settings. It creates a society where the impossible becomes improbable.

• Magical Realism is generally set in the past or present, focusing on the common nature of life, rather than the imagined future.

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Its function within literature Looks at everyday life with a special

lens that searches for magical elements within reality. ie. Magic is found everywhere, we just aren’t accustomed to noticing it.

Magical Realism is “pregnant with metaphoric or hidden meanings.”

Goals to help understand Magical Realism

1. Identify the elements that are “real.”

2. Identify how some elements of reality are changed in “magical” ways.

3. Decide why reality was manipulated; what is significant about these changes? What is revealed by these changes?

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Cultural Magical Realism

Writers often use magical realism to portray events that many of their readers may not understand as reality, but are a part of the writer’s cultural or political experience. Magic realists also frequently incorporate fairy tales and cultural legend or myths into their works. For Example, Native American writers use it to

show the power of nature. African American writer Toni Morrison uses

magical realism to show the spiritual power of women in her novels.

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Suspension of Belief

Do you have different versions of reality, and if so, why? Looking at writing from another culture

opens a reader’s eye to the unfamiliar, where magical realism exists.

There are two sides to every story. What we define as magical or mystical

could be interpreted as very real to someone else.

Imagination and perspective8

It’s all about Perspective

Does looking at the world through only one perspective

lead to ignorance?

Is it important to “Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes?