Magic Realism

1
Magic Realism

• What is Magic Realism?

2
About Magic Realism

• It is an art movement
• It began during World War I
• It is a representation of art with with elements
  of fantasy
• Its goal is to tap into emotional reservoirs
  within all of us.
• It tricks us, and makes us question what is real
  and what isnt

3
About Magic Realism

• If it is a mix of art and fantasy, then what can
  constitute art?
• Literature
• Magic realism is frequently used in literature as
  well as in art
• Its goal is to represent the world around us in a
  new and unfamiliar way

4
Magic Realism

• Reality isnt just out there, like some block
  of cement reality is interpretation
• What is an example from your own life where you
  may interpret reality?

5
Why Magic Realism?

• Why do you think that magic realism emerged
  during the decades of the 30s 40s and 50s?

6
Magic Realism

• It is fantastic or mythical elements into
  seemingly realistic fiction.
• Essentially, I like to think of magic realism as
  the blurring of the fantasy and reality worlds.
• http//tlc.discovery.com/videos/my-crazy-obsession
  -cabbage-patch-playdate.html
• http//tlc.discovery.com/videos/my-crazy-obsession
  -simply-wigging-out.html

7
Verisimilitude

• This is another term used to discuss the notion
  of magic realism
• Essentially, verisimilitude can be defined as the
  audiences willingness to accept the semblance of
  reality in dramatic or non-dramatic fiction.

8
Verisimilitude

• The author tries to present an experience in
  their story that incorporates science fiction or
  a tale of the supernatural in a way that will
  entice the audience to believe it is real
• The audience must be willing to actively suspend
  their disbelieve and accept the improbable as
  true or possible within the framework of the
  narrative.

9
Suspension of Disbelief

• Fanatics do not have faith - they have belief.
  With faith you let go. You trust, whereas with
  belief you cling. One of the things I dicovered,
  reading the foudning texts of Islam,
  Christianity, Hinduism - a good religion works
  like a good novel it makes you suspend your
  disbelief

10
Suspension of Disbelief

• What do you need to let go of or trust in
  order to suspend your disbelief?
• What does Martel mean when he says that believers
  cling?
• Why is it important to suspend your disbelief
  when reading a religious text, or believing in
  your own faith?

11
Suspension of Disbelief

• The willing suspension of disbelief is when the
  audience can accept a certain level of
  implausibility in order to maintain the
  favourability of the story.
• Suspension of disbelief becomes important for the
  story to be accepted and appreciated.
• Can you think of an example where you have
  suspended your disbelief?

12
Reality

• In a sense we co-create our reality. And we do
  that all the time, every day. One day we wake up
  and were in a great mood the city we live in is
  a beautiful city, the next day its an ugly city.
  Thats just the way we interpret things. Were
  not free necessarily to choose the facts of our
  life, but there is an element of freedom in how
  we interpret them.

13
Reality

• How does the previous quote by Yann Martel relate
  to the videos that you watched?