by Sachula

Magical Realism [a] is an artistic or literary genre that conveys a realistic narrative combined with surreal elements of fantasy, and it's one of my favorite genres. It challenges binary oppositions like life and death and the pre-colonial past versus the post-industrial present. I love that as a writer, I can take our everyday world that surrounds us and add in a twist of something magical and unexplainable to it.

According to the almighty Wikipedia, there is some debate about the origins of the genre, though it seems like the roots of literary magical realism began in Latin American back in the 1920s. "Writers often traveled between their home country and European cultural hubs, such as Paris or Berlin, and were influenced by the art movement of the time. Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier and Venezuelan Arturo Uslar-Pietri, for example, were strongly influenced by European artistic movements, such as Surrealism, during their stays in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s [b]."

As you can see, there's a lot of history behind this particular genre. In Latin America in the 1940s, magical realism was a way to express a realistic mindset while creating an autonomous style of literature. There's even a number of articles and works detailing how magical realism has the ability to present the general Latin American resentment toward colonization through its construction of alienation, lack of descriptions, and the uncommon distortion of time, as those are some of the common characteristics that run through the genre. [c]

One of the common themes of the magical realism genre is terror, where the idea of terror overwhelms the possibility of renewal. Time is often cyclical in this genre, where what happens once, often comes around again. Another popular and often complex theme is carnivalesque. "The concept of carnival celebrates the body, the senses, and the relations between humans. "Carnival" refers to cultural manifestations that take place in different related forms in North and South America, Europe, and the Caribbean, often including particular language and dress, as well as the presence of a madman, fool, or clown. In addition, people organize and participate in dance, music, or theater [d]."

Here are some of my favorite examples of Magical Realism, but there are a ton of great works out there in the genre, so definitely make a search!
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, first published in 1937. Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person -- no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman, first published in July 2001. Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god, and the king of America. Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them, a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, published in September 2011. The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, published in 1994–1995.
This is another novel that features an "other world," this time taking the form of a labyrinthine hotel, in which the hero's wife, Kumiko, is held prisoner by her evil brother, Wataya Noboru. The hero, a mild-manner, unemployed house-husband named Okada Tōru, must find his way into this metaphysical labyrinth, confront Noboru, and rescue Kumiko. Meanwhile, he must also deal with those awkward moments when the coiled springs of time run down, and different historical epochs slam into one another. The work is a study of sex, violence, and collective memories lost and regained.

I like to write magical realism because a lot of the fantasy stories that I've come to love fall into that genre. I love that time isn't always linear, and that you really have to think about the experiences you want the reader to have while reading your work while you write it.

I'd love to hear from you! What's your favorite thing about magical realism? What's your favorite novel of the genre? Tag me below in the comments and let's talk! - J.D.

@Sachula (J.D. Robinson) is an indie author who currently lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina USA with her husband and two young children. She's a foodie, a relapsing coffee addict, and a rabid fan of the dark and deadly. Follow her on social media or join her mailing list to stay up to date with all her works and releases.

Example of Magical Realism on Wattpad:
Legacy of the Necromancer by Sachula

Synopsis:

Powerless in a family of Necromancers, Ezra has struggled to fit in his whole life. Going off to a normal college life seemed like the perfect place to escape the harsh realities of home. But when the girl he's had a crush on since they were eight is forced into an arranged marriage with another, darker, Necromancer family, Ezra returns and does the only thing he can to save her - he volunteers to take the test that will name him a full Necromancer, and her betrothed - if he survives. During the test, Ezra learns he isn't as powerless as he thought. Secrets and hidden truths are revealed that are all connected to the Reinhardt family, all of whom were thought to have been killed by the Necromancer's worse enemy, the Witches. Witches that are hell-bent on ridding the world of the 'black arts'. With the help of an unlikely ally and a raven familiar, Ezra has the power to save the girl he loves and his kind, too, if he can master it in time.

Excerpt:

"Ezra!"
I heard my mom shout, but it was all I could do to keep the power contained within me, and you know, not kill myself in the process. Two little slippered feet appeared in my line of vision as I stared at the carpet. I looked up to find Thea standing there, her lithe frame barely taller than my hunched form. She reached out; her too cold fingers lightly touching my forehead.
A chill swept through me, cooling the fire that raged in my heart to a manageable heat. I opened my eyes, unaware that I'd even closed them. "Thanks," I said.
"It'll take time to learn control, but I see what will be. You will master it." Thea's voice chimed almost like a bell.
"Enough stalling, let's see this power of yours," Nathan snapped.
I stood again, letting my father steady me when I swayed a little on my feet. I was a Necromancer. I was a Summoner. I could do this and I would.
I clutched the pendent tightly in my hand and focused my attention on the bare spot in the center of the room. Thea had cooled enough of my Talent that I could call just enough forth for what I needed. I wasn't looking forward to what would happen after though. I was too weak as it was, and using more Talent now would only make me feel worse.
The words I wanted sprang to my mind just as they had back in the jungle. I honestly had no clue what I was saying. I only knew the meaning behind it, the goal I wanted to achieve.
"Vershala tulian das lo berruas. Kalha vas notha rak!"
I screamed the last word of the spell with the very last of my strength, pushing my Talent to hold fast to the phrases. I felt the power burn, just like it had before, searing my veins with power.
An intricate circle appeared on the floor, contrasting with the floral print of the carpet with a violent red glow as it spun and pulsed along with the rapid beating of my heart. One last word came to mind, one last name I had to call out to finish the summoning.
"Kastem!" The name rolled through me like a train, dragging every last ounce of energy from my body as I collapsed to the ground again. The circle shrank suddenly to a pinpoint on the carpet, and exploded in a flash of light.
I shielded my eyes from it, but even as the bright white burned, I could see the silhouette of the beast materializing where the circle had been.
Nathan stumbled back, sinking into an overstuffed armchair when his feet hit it. "I can't believe it."
Dad knelt next to me, his hand a solid weight on my shoulder. After a moment, he helped me stand, this time holding me up right so that I didn't fall again.
Avery quickly took up her post at my free side, smiling up at me with her bright blue eyes. "I knew you could do it."

[a] Other Examples:
Gabriel Garica Marquez - One Hundred Years of Solitude
Virginia Woolf - Orlando
[b] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_realism
[c] https://medium.com/@pambianda/using-magical-realism-to-express-postcolonial-thought-368f4014f51f
[d] https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/postcolonialstudies/2014/06/21/magical-realism/

More on Magical Realism:

The Contemporary Novel: Magical Realism | Prof. Lois Zamora, University of Houston

https://youtu.be/86bEuhoTGh4

Magical Realism: Embracing the Absurdity of Latin America | Andrés Hermida | TEDxColegioBolivar

https://youtu.be/9tYktRinPd8

An exploration of magical realism and technology | Shilo Shiv Suleman | TEDxUbud

https://youtu.be/jqtvWEt2soY