Magical Realism?
Bob
help!
I'm a drama student at UCB and I'm trying to write a paper about
magical realism in Tony Kushner's Angels in America. I can't
find any literature about magical realism. None at all, not even
an exact definition. Does anyone know anything about it, and can
anyone tell me of any books or essays about it?
I'd be very grateful -
Scott Walters
(Bob) wrote:
Magic Realism is a style of writing that is most associated with fiction,
less with theatre. Which is probably why you're writing about it. I
would suggest finding a journal article about a major Magic Realism author
or novel -- say, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" -- and check
out the bibliography. Generally, Magic Realism is characterized by a
realistic milieu in which supernatural events -- for instance, ghosts --
are treated as if they were everyday, realistic events. If you have read
or seen "Like Water for Chocolate," for instance, you have a sense of
Magic Realism in action. The centrals character's emotions enter whatever
she cooks, and whoever eats the food experiences something similar because
of it.
Good luck.
scott walters (now THERE'S a good query!)
Steve A.
sewa...@ilstu.edu (Scott Walters) wrote:
> In article <3lirr7$g...@agate.berkeley.edu>, jzw...@uclink2.berkeley.edu
>
> Magic Realism is a style of writing that is most associated with fiction,
> less with theatre. Which is probably why you're writing about it. I
> would suggest finding a journal article about a major Magic Realism author
> or novel -- say, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" -- and check
> out the bibliography. Generally, Magic Realism is characterized by a
> realistic milieu in which supernatural events -- for instance, ghosts --
> are treated as if they were everyday, realistic events. If you have read
> or seen "Like Water for Chocolate," for instance, you have a sense of
> Magic Realism in action. The centrals character's emotions enter whatever
> she cooks, and whoever eats the food experiences something similar because
> of it.
> Good luck.
>
> scott walters (now THERE'S a good query!)
Scott -
Yes, I'm writing from right next door, but I want the world to know!
I resonded to this same question earlier, though it seems the posting
has expired.
I am beginning to believe that Magic Realism is strongl connected with
religion, or perhaps more acurately cultures in which religion is a key
part of cultural development. I see that most fiction that falls into
this drama are Hispanic and Irish, regions which have a strong Catholic
background. Perhaps this commonality relates to the supernatuarl elements
and freedom of the Catholic church - not just the biblical stories
themselves, but the way the Catholic faith has adapted native
mysticism...connection with voodoo cults, Santeria, the conversion of
Native peoples in America. Also, these cultures seem to appropriate
mystic folklore and redefine them - the stories of St. Patrickand other
Celtic myths which now work alongside of Irish faith; the Aztec rituals
and religious sites which entered into Hispanic Cathedrals.
Do you think this explains why Magic Realism is found most often in
Catholic cultures? It's worth the investigation...
Steve A.
Michael Levy
Scott Walters <sewa...@ilstu.edu> wrote:
>In article <3ltdn5$j...@umbc8.umbc.edu>, mle...@umbc.edu (Michael Levy) wrote:
>>
>> So then what is the difference between magic realism and fantasy? Why
>> isn't every ghost story ever written magic realism?
>>
>Because in a ghost story, the presence of ghosts are treated as an
>ABNORMAL event.
Well, let me put it this way. People have been writing fantasy and science
fiction novels for well over a century in which the universe obeys slightly
different laws than our own. This is not a new phenomena. What is it about
magic realism that it suddenly becomes a major literary movement? Why are
these recent books different from a thousand other books written years ago?
--
-- Michael Levy
mle...@umbc8.umbc.edu
Scott Walters
> In article <sewalter-030...@ipgw3227.ipatp.ilstu.edu>,
> Scott Walters <sewa...@ilstu.edu> wrote:
> >In article <3lirr7$g...@agate.berkeley.edu>, jzw...@uclink2.berkeley.edu
> >(Bob) wrote:
> >
> >> help!
> >>
> >> I'm a drama student at UCB and I'm trying to write a paper about
> >> magical realism in Tony Kushner's Angels in America. I can't
> >> find any literature about magical realism. None at all, not even
> >> an exact definition. Does anyone know anything about it, and can
> >> anyone tell me of any books or essays about it?
> >>
> >> I'd be very grateful -
> >
> >Magic Realism is a style of writing that is most associated with fiction,
> >less with theatre. Which is probably why you're writing about it. I
> >would suggest finding a journal article about a major Magic Realism author
> >or novel -- say, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" -- and check
> >out the bibliography. Generally, Magic Realism is characterized by a
> >realistic milieu in which supernatural events -- for instance, ghosts --
> >are treated as if they were everyday, realistic events. If you have read
> >or seen "Like Water for Chocolate," for instance, you have a sense of
> >Magic Realism in action. The centrals character's emotions enter whatever
> >she cooks, and whoever eats the food experiences something similar because
> >of it.
> > Good luck.
>
> So then what is the difference between magic realism and fantasy? Why
> isn't every ghost story ever written magic realism?
>
Scott Walters
Because in a ghost story, the presence of ghosts are treated as an
ABNORMAL event.
scott walters
Scott Walters
> In article <sewalter-050...@ipgw3200.ipatp.ilstu.edu>,
> >Because in a ghost story, the presence of ghosts are treated as an
> >ABNORMAL event.
>
> Well, let me put it this way. People have been writing fantasy and science
> fiction novels for well over a century in which the universe obeys slightly
> different laws than our own. This is not a new phenomena. What is it about
> magic realism that it suddenly becomes a major literary movement? Why are
> these recent books different from a thousand other books written years ago?
>
> --
>
> -- Michael Levy
Michael--I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on magic realism or
fantasy and science fiction. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, as
they say. However, I'll take a stab...
In fantasy and science fiction, usually we encounter a society that is
very different from ours, at least in its outward trappings (although
there usually is some analogous relationship). It's in the future, for
instance, or it's on another planet, or it's in some mythical past. The
characters often are "special" in some way: they have special powers, or
personal characteristics, or appearances. They use these powers in
extraordinary circumstances.
Fiction written in the magic realism style usually takes place in a
place and time very much like our own. The people are not extraordinary
in any conscious, useful way--although they occasionally possess powers
that are extraordinary, such as in the aforementioned "Like Water for
Chocolote." The key is in the milieu (very much everyday) and the
reaction to the extraordinary (as an everyday event). And usually the
events that they encounter in the story are not particularly
extraordinary, either. It is a realistic portrayal of realistic events
that include magical events that are treated as if realistic.
I guess you might say that the answer to your question is in the name
itself: magic realism. It is a style that INTEGRATES both magic and
realism.
Scott Walters (and that's my last attempt--someone who knows more than I
do will have to take it to the next level)
Rylot
it might help to get more specific. Magic Realism usually refers to a
school of new world Spanish language literature.
Also, most Magic Realism I have read has a strong political content
(though this is sometimes obscured for readers not aware of the history of
the author's country. Often what is read by Americans as whimsical fantasy
is read by the original audience as satire or allegory.)
Gustoggg
all we've really talked about. take a look at PEDRO PARAMO by Rulfo,
EXPLOSION IN A CATHEDRAL or 100 YEARS OF SOLITUDE
gus
from four weddings and a funeral with some editing: "i always thought that
i'd meet a guy whose look i liked, he wouldn't be totally put-off by my
look and i would sort of pop the question."
x...@dev.urel.berkeley.edu
>
> In article <3ltdn5$j...@umbc8.umbc.edu>, mle...@umbc.edu (Michael Levy) wrote:
>
> > Scott Walters <sewa...@ilstu.edu> wrote:
> > >In article <3lirr7$g...@agate.berkeley.edu>, jzw...@uclink2.berkeley.edu
> > >(Bob) wrote:
> > >
> > >> help!
> > >>
> > >> I'm a drama student at UCB and I'm trying to write a paper about
> > >> magical realism in Tony Kushner's Angels in America. I can't
> > >> find any literature about magical realism. None at all, not even
> > >> an exact definition. Does anyone know anything about it, and can
> > >> anyone tell me of any books or essays about it?
> > >>
> > >> I'd be very grateful -
> > >
> > >Magic Realism is a style of writing that is most associated with fiction,
> > >less with theatre. Which is probably why you're writing about it. I
> > >would suggest finding a journal article about a major Magic Realism author
> > >or novel -- say, Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" -- and check
> > >out the bibliography. Generally, Magic Realism is characterized by a
> > >realistic milieu in which supernatural events -- for instance, ghosts --
> > >are treated as if they were everyday, realistic events. If you have read
> > >or seen "Like Water for Chocolate," for instance, you have a sense of
> > >Magic Realism in action. The centrals character's emotions enter whatever
> > >she cooks, and whoever eats the food experiences something similar because
> > >of it.
> > > Good luck.
> >
> > isn't every ghost story ever written magic realism?
> >
> >
> > -- Michael Levy
> >
> Because in a ghost story, the presence of ghosts are treated as an
> ABNORMAL event.
>
I'd add to this that, in magical realism, those events which we might consider
extraordinary are considered ordinary. The concept is derived from a fusion of
Christian and traditional South/Central American "pagan" philosophies which allows
the natural and the supernatural to coexist as accepted realities. A non-literary
example of this concept is the Mexican ritual known as the Day of the Dead, where the
spirits of departed family members return to partake of food and gifts from the living.
It's quite a moving ritual, and fascinating.
Cheers,
G. Klerkx