Question

The term ________ was originally applied to a School of Surrealist German painters in the 1920’s.

• A. Surrealism
• B. Romanticism
• C. Magic realism
• D. Modernism

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Magic realism

Understanding Magic Realism: From German Art to Global Literature

• The term Magic Realism (or Magischer Realismus in German) was initially coined by the German art critic Franz Roh in his 1925 book, Nach-Expressionismus, Magischer Realismus: Probleme der neuesten europäischen Malerei (Post-Expressionism, Magic Realism: Problems of the Newest European Painting).
• Roh applied the term to a specific group of German painters who emerged in the 1920s, following the Expressionist movement. These artists were part of a broader artistic movement known as New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit).

• Key Characteristics in Early Art:

  • Unlike Expressionists who distorted reality to express inner emotion, these Magic Realist painters aimed for a hyper-realistic, precise, and detached depiction of everyday objects and scenes.
  • Their works presented familiar reality in a way that imbued it with a sense of the uncanny, the mysterious, or the dreamlike, making the ordinary appear extraordinary or unsettling.
  • It was about revealing the 'magic' hidden within the mundane, rather than inventing fantastical worlds.
• Notable German artists associated with this early art movement include Georg Schrimpf, Alexander Kanoldt, and Carl Grossberg.

• Evolution into a Literary Genre:

  • While the term originated in art criticism, it gained much wider recognition and prominence when applied to literature, particularly in the mid-20th century.
  • The literary genre of Magic Realism often blends realistic elements with fantastical or magical ones, presenting the supernatural as a natural part of the mundane world. The magical occurrences are typically not explained or questioned by the characters or narrator.
  • It became a defining characteristic of much of the Latin American Boom literature.

• Key Literary Figures and Works:

  • Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia) is arguably the most famous proponent, with his masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude being a quintessential example of literary Magic Realism.
  • Other significant authors include Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina), Isabel Allende (Chile), Laura Esquivel (Mexico), and Salman Rushdie (India/UK).

• Distinction from Surrealism:

  • While often confused, Magic Realism differs from Surrealism. Surrealism typically delves into the subconscious, dreams, and irrationality, often creating fragmented or jarring imagery.
  • Magic Realism, in contrast, usually maintains a firm grip on reality, integrating the magical seamlessly into a conventionally realistic setting, making the extraordinary seem ordinary.