What is magical realism? Many people have conflicting ideas about when and who first used the term. It is likely that most people are completely confused when confronted with this subject, but after they read a few papers on magical realism, it becomes a little clearer. The papers that Amaryll Chanady, Luis Leal, Angle Flores, Franz Roh, and Scott Simpkins wrote have been helpful in studying the history and theory of magical realism. Each paper has many good points in it, but the authors argue so much over who is right or wrong that it is hard to decide who to agree with.
Angel Flores has several good points in his essay on magical realism. He says that it “has been studied mostly through the thematic or biographical approach. The thematic approach has dwelt on geographical settings….The biographical approach on the other hand, has surveyed the literary production chronologically” (109). Flores believes that Jorge Luis Borges’ 1935 book A Universal History of Infamy was the first use of magical realism. He describes magical realism as transforming “the common and the everyday into the awesome and the unreal.” He says the writers “cling to reality as if to prevent ‘literature’ from getting in their way, as if to prevent their myth from flying off, as in fairy tales, to supernatural realms. The narrative proceeds in well-prepared, increasingly intense steps, which ultimately may lead to one great ambiguity or confusion….All magical realists have this in common” (qtd. in Leal 119-120). Flores states that “magical realists do not cater to a popular taste, rather they address themselves to the sophisticated, those not merely initiated in aesthetic mysteries but versed in subtleties” (qtd….
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…etropolitan Paradigms.” Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 125-144.
Flores, Angel. “Magical Realism in Spanish American Fiction.” Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 109-117.
Leal, Luis. “Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature.” Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 119-124.
O’Reilly, Breen. Magical Realism. 1994. 1 January 2001 .
Roh, Franz. “Magical Realism: Post-Expressionism.” Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 15-31.
Simpkins, Scott. “Sources of Magical Realism/Supplements to Realism in Contemporary Latin American Literature.” Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham; N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 145-159.
The History and Theory of Magical Realism
The History and Theory of Magical Realism
Fantasy, Magical, Supernatural, Sublime, and Realism are all several genres of literature that may be familiar to many people. However, there may be one that is not as well-known as these: Magical Realism. Although Magical Realism is mostly common in the Latin American countries, one may wonder where and how Magical Realism got its start. On the other hand, one may simply wonder what some of the characteristics of Magical Realism are. By looking at the history and theory of Magical Realism as well as some of its characteristics and influences, these questions will be answered.
Interestingly, the term “Magical Realism” was first used in 1925 by a German art critic, Franz Roh. In his essay, “Magic Realism: Post-Expressionism,” Roh used the term “Magical Realism” to actually characterize a style of painting instead of a style of literature (15). However, there are still at least two different viewpoints as to where and when Magical Realism truly had its start. In Angel Flores’ essay, “Magical Realism in Spanish America,” he claims that Magical Realism had its basis in the works of Franz Kafka. Furthermore, Flores thinks that the year 1935 was the year that Magical Realism had its beginning in Latin America because this was the year that Jorge Luis Borges’ work, A Universal History of Infamy, appeared in Buenos Aires. After the appearance of Borges’ works, several other writers began to follow his style, giving Magical Realism its rise in popularity in the years of 1940 to 1950 (Flores 113).
In his essay “Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature” Luis Leal disagrees with Flores’ viewpoint. Leal does not think that Magical Realism had its growth during the 1940 to 195…
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…Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 125-141.
Flores, Angel. “Magical Realism in Spanish American Fiction.” Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 109-116.
“Garcia Marquez – Biography.” 14 Jan. 2001
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Leal, Luis. “Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature.” Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 119-123.
“Magical Realism.” 8 Jan. 2001
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Roh, Franz. “Magic Realism: Post-Expressionism.” Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 15-30.