MAGIC REALISM

MAGIC REALISM
   A term originally used to describe a form of literature most commonly associated with 20th-century Latin America, most notably in the works of Isabel Allende (1942-), Miguel Angel Asturias (1899-1974), Jorge LuisBORGES, Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1928-) and Juan Rulfo (1918-1986). US and UK practitioners include Donald BARTHELME, Angela CARTER and John Hawkes (1925-).Contrary to the antirealistic assumptions of high Modernism (Henry James (1843-1916), Ezra Pound (1885-1972) and T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)) or the fable-producing, self-referential texts of metafiction (John BARTH and Italo CALVINO), Magic Realism does not necessarily doubt either the actuality of a real world or the ability of literary language to describe that world. Instead it assumes that the mundane world and its familiar objects are often filled with fabulous secrets. Magic realism explores the real world's unrealities, and does not simply - like FANTASY, Surrealism or fairy tales - invent the dreamlike unrealities of ALTERNATEWORLDS. Magic Realism suggests that the real world can be represented, even when it cannot be believed.For further discussion of the broad tendencies of 20th-century literature from which Magic Realism partially dissents, FABULATION.
   SB
   See also: POSTMODERNISM AND SF.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Encyclopedia. . 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Magic realism — or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction [1] in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the real and… …   Wikipedia

  • magic realism — magic realist. a style of painting and literature in which fantastic or imaginary and often unsettling images or events are depicted in a sharply detailed, realistic manner. [1925 30] * * * or magical realism Latin American literary phenomenon… …   Universalium

  • magic realism — n. a style in 20th cent. literature and art that depicts fantastic or magical characters or occurrences in an otherwise realistic presentation: also magical realism …   English World dictionary

  • magic realism — noun a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative or meticulously realistic painting are combined with surreal elements of fantasy or dreams • Hypernyms: ↑genre * * * ˌmagic ˈrealism f19 [magic realism] (also ˌmagical ˈrealism …   Useful english dictionary

  • magic realism — also magical realism N UNCOUNT Magic realism is a style of writing or painting which sometimes describes dreams as though they were real, and real events as though they were dreams …   English dictionary

  • Magic Realism — Magic Real|is|m n [U] a style of imaginative novel writing connected especially with 20th century writers from Latin America, such as Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, and Isabel Allende, in which impossible events are described as if… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • magic realism — noun Date: 1933 1. painting in a meticulously realistic style of imaginary or fantastic scenes or images 2. a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • magic realism — (also magical realism) noun a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy. Derivatives magic realist noun & adjective …   English new terms dictionary

  • magic realism — noun a literary style or genre that combines naturalistic details and narrative with surreal or dreamlike elements Syn: magical realism …   Wiktionary

  • magic realism — UK / US noun [uncountable] cinema, literature a type of literature or cinema in which very strange things happen in ordinary situations, as they do in dreams …   English dictionary

  • magic realism — mag′ic (or mag′ical) re′alism n. fia lit. an artistic style in which often fantastic images or events are depicted in a sharply realistic manner …   From formal English to slang

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”