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“Light is Like Water”
Magical Realism
Ms. Randall
CP English 2B
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.”
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“Schoolroom”
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
Magical Realism incorporates the
thought of magic into real, common,
settings. It creates a society where the
impossible becomes improbable.
• Star Wars
• Star Trek
• Jurassic Park
• Incredible Hulk
• Magical Realism is generally set in the
past or present, focusing on the common
nature of life, rather than the imagined
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future.
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 perspective
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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?