The term "magical realism" refers to a genre of fiction where the magic and supernatural occur within recognizably human settings. Magical realists often feature telepaths, strange events, and even dead characters. They rarely explain the nature of magic or use it as a vehicle for critique, but instead reflect it in the characters' reactions and internal senses. To put it simply, magic is an element of reality that is absent in everyday life.
Magical realism is often rooted in myths and legends from other cultures. For example, Ben Okri uses the West African spirit child abiku in his novel, "The Famished Road." Other magical realism writers combine legends of divergent places to create startling anachronisms. For example, Otar Chiladze fuses ancient Greek myths with the history of his homeland near the Black Sea.
While rooted in Europe, the term became popular throughout Latin America as well. Latin American writers began to merge European Magic Realism with their native culture, often focusing on making ordinary events seem extraordinary. Franz Roh's work was translated into Spanish in 1927 and was published in the Revista de Occidente, edited by Jose Ortega y Gasset. Venezualan writer Arturo Uslar-Pietri was also familiar with the era's Magical Realists. His short stories were published during the 1930s and 1940s.
The magical realism genre is often confused with fantasy. But in fact, it takes ordinary life and shines it with a magical ray of light. This style of literature has been embraced by many contemporary artists, including painters and photographers. Its aesthetics, vocabulary, and devices are distinctive and unique. You will be able to find many examples in contemporary art and literature. You will be surprised by how many writers have embraced the magical realism genre.
If you are a fan of fantasy, you may enjoy the work of Neil Gaiman. While his writing spans many genres, Beloved is a delightfully elevated fairy tale. The novel is set in the South of the United States and follows the life of a nameless narrator in his middle age. Upon returning to his hometown for a funeral, he is haunted by memories of his childhood friend, Lettie Hempstock, who insists that the little pond next to her house is an ocean. He begins to remember the past and his relationship with his mother.
While the term "magical realism" has been around for decades, the field took a new turn in Latin American literature. Writers such as Jorge Luis Borges and Elena Garro adopted the term to describe the genre. In fact, the genre is still flourishing, with a slew of influential writers, including Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is hard to pinpoint the exact origins of the term, but it certainly deserves attention.