History and Theory

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Recommended: History of magical realism literature

History and Theory

The world is full of magical realism. Magical Realism may just become a word that people thought of in the 1930's; however, magical realism has been here for as long as the people have been able to tell and write stories. Whether the stories are true or made up, they are all magical realism.

The first author who started associating the words of magical realism to out was a German art critic, by the name of Franz Roh. Roh considered magical realism an art category. It represented and responded to reality and depicted the enigmas of reality. In Latin America in the 1940's, magical realism was a way to express the realistic American mentality and create an autonomous style of literature.

One feature of magical realism is ironic distance from the magical worldview should not compromise reality. The writer should strongly respect the magic or else the magic would go into folk belief or complete fantasy and split from the term of magic that relates it to Angel Flores (111).

Authorial reticence another feature of magical realism, refers to the lack of clear opinions of the accuracy of events of the worldviews expressed by the characters in the stories. This technique promotes acceptance in magical realism. The simple fact of explaining the supernatural worldview can be part of reality (Wendy Faris, 165).

Magical Realism can be art, poetry, and literature. Gabriel Garcia Marquez was linked to the style of literature known as magical realism. Literature is only one type of magical realism that is expressed wildely. The books of many different authors who have written literature can make a person's mind go far and beyond in their imagination.

Scott Simpkins has stated that there are no limitations on the...

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...1995: 109-117.

Guenther, Irene, " Magical Realism, New Objectivity, and the arts during the Weimar Republic" Magical Realism Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durkham, N.C.: Durham: Duke up, 1995: 33-72.

Leal, Luis, "Magical Realism in Spanish American Literature" Magical Realism Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durkham, N.C.: Durham: Duke up, 1995: 119-12.

Roh, Franz, "Magical Realism: Post Expressionism" Magical Realism Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and eWendy B. Farus, Dyrjgan, N.C.: Durham: Duke up, 1995: 15-31.

Simpkins, Scott. Sources of Magical Realism. Supplements to Realism in Contemprary Latin American Literature. "Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community. Ed. Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris. Durham, N.C.: Duke UP, 1995: 145-159.

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