Question

The term Magic Realism comes from the German word:

• A. Realistische Fantasie
• B. Magischer Realismus
• C. Traumhafte Wahrheit
• D. Wunderbare Realität

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Magischer Realismus

Origin and Evolution of the Term 'Magic Realism'

• The term Magic Realism (often rendered as Magical Realism in English) originates from the German phrase Magischer Realismus.
• It was first coined by the German art critic Franz Roh in 1925.
• Roh used the term in his essay, Nach-Expressionismus, Magischer Realismus: Probleme der neuesten europäischen Malerei (Post-Expressionism, Magic Realism: Problems of the Newest European Painting), to describe a new style of painting that emerged after Expressionism.
• Initially, Magischer Realismus in art referred to paintings that depicted mundane subjects with a sense of wonder or eeriness, emphasizing the mystery of the everyday world rather than fantastical elements.
• The term gained significant traction in literary criticism much later, primarily during the 1940s and 1950s, especially in Latin America.
• The Cuban author Alejo Carpentier introduced a similar concept, lo real maravilloso ('the marvelous real'), in 1949, focusing on the inherent wondrous and unbelievable aspects of Latin American reality, often seen as a precursor or parallel to literary Magic Realism.
• Angel Flores is often credited with applying the term "Magical Realism" to literature in 1955, specifically to works by Jorge Luis Borges and others.

• Key Characteristics of Literary Magic Realism:

  • Blend of Real and Fantastic: It seamlessly integrates fantastical or impossible elements into a realistic setting.
  • Matter-of-Fact Tone: The supernatural is presented as commonplace and ordinary, without explanation or special emphasis.
  • Commonplace Acceptance: Characters often react to magical elements with little or no surprise, treating them as part of reality.
  • Rich Sensory Details: It frequently incorporates vivid sensory descriptions to ground the magical elements in a tangible world.
  • Political and Social Critique: Many works use magical elements to subtly critique political realities, societal norms, or historical events.
  • Circular Time/Non-linear Narratives: Time often behaves non-linearly, and events might recur or unfold in a complex manner.

• Prominent Authors and Works:

  • The literary movement is most strongly associated with the Latin American Literary Boom of the 1960s and 1970s.
  • Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia) is arguably the most famous proponent, especially with his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), which became a seminal work of the genre. Other works include Love in the Time of Cholera.
  • Isabel Allende (Chilean-American): The House of the Spirits.
  • Julio Cortázar (Argentine): Often considered a precursor, known for his experimental narratives that blur reality and fantasy.
  • Jorge Luis Borges (Argentine): Though not strictly a magical realist, his fantastic stories and philosophical explorations significantly influenced the genre.
  • Laura Esquivel (Mexican): Like Water for Chocolate.
  • The influence of Magic Realism extends globally, with authors like Toni Morrison (American) and Salman Rushdie (British-Indian) also incorporating its elements into their works.