Magical Realism In application to Toni Morrison’s Beloved

Spectrum of modern genres Fantasy Realism Escapism Magic Science Fiction Supernatural Expressionism Surrealism Magical Realism

Realism Focus on showing life as it really is. They try not to romanticize or idolize or hyperbolize. Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Dostoyevsky 19th-20th century Early realists focused on representing lives not previously seen in fine arts (women, the poor, workers, street life, ethnicities). Gustave Courbet, Stone-Breakers

Expressionism Ma Ma Presents the world in a subjective perspective, distorting it for emotional effect, to evoke moods or ideas. Seeks emotional experience and represents that over physical realism. Hemingway, Faulkner, Joyce Beginning of 20th century

Surrealism Salvador Dali, “Persistence of Memory” Inserts irrational and dreamlike images or elements into realistic style or setting. Surprising and unexpected juxtapositions Seeks to engage the unconscious mind in creating works of imagination. 1920’s -40’s

Magical Realism in Art Rob Gonzalves

Magical Realism in Film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Magical Realism Defined Magical realism is a literary style that generally describes works that combine fantasy with reality to create a mythical occurrence. Magical realism is a literary style that generally describes works that combine fantasy with reality to create a mythical occurrence. Events don't follow our expectations of “if/then”, like most novels. Events don't follow our expectations of “if/then”, like most novels. “If this happens, then this will follow.” “If this happens, then this will follow.” Things often happen without an explanation, or for reasons that we don't expect. Things often happen without an explanation, or for reasons that we don't expect.

Magical Realism Defies our expectation of fictional selves. Defies our expectation of fictional selves. In realistic novels, characters are given individualized names, personalities, and family histories. In realistic novels, characters are given individualized names, personalities, and family histories. We identify with them because their specific humanity engages us, and their individuality resembles our own. We identify with them because their specific humanity engages us, and their individuality resembles our own. Objects and places in magical realist novels behave in ways that they could not in a realistic fiction. Objects and places in magical realist novels behave in ways that they could not in a realistic fiction.

Garcia Márquez on Magical Realism The question of what is real is at the heart of magical realism. The question of what is real is at the heart of magical realism. This Implies that our notions of reality are too limited—that reality includes magic, miracles and monsters. This Implies that our notions of reality are too limited—that reality includes magic, miracles and monsters. By making things happen in his fictional world of Macondo that do not happen in most novels (or in most readers' experiences either), Garcia Marquez asks us to question our assumptions about our world, and to examine our certainties about ourselves and our community. By making things happen in his fictional world of Macondo that do not happen in most novels (or in most readers' experiences either), Garcia Marquez asks us to question our assumptions about our world, and to examine our certainties about ourselves and our community. Because the magical events in Macondo are presented matter-of-factly, our own sense of what is possible is amplified and enriched. Ordinary objects and events are enchanted. Because the magical events in Macondo are presented matter-of-factly, our own sense of what is possible is amplified and enriched. Ordinary objects and events are enchanted.

Garcia Márquez on Magical Realism Suggests that cultures and countries differ in what they call "real." Suggests that cultures and countries differ in what they call "real." It is here that magical realism serves its most important function, because it facilitates the inclusion of alternative belief systems. It is here that magical realism serves its most important function, because it facilitates the inclusion of alternative belief systems.

Magical Realism vs. Science Fiction/Fantasy The crucial difference between magical realism and science fiction/fantasy is that magical realism sets magical events in realistic contexts, thus requiring us to question what is "real," and how we can tell. The crucial difference between magical realism and science fiction/fantasy is that magical realism sets magical events in realistic contexts, thus requiring us to question what is "real," and how we can tell.

Elements included in Magical Realism Hybridity - is illustrated in the inharmonious arenas of such opposites as urban and rural, and Western and indigenous. The plots of magical realist works involve issues of borders, mixing, and change… often Latin American, Native American, Middle Eastern Irony Regarding Author’s Perspective—The writer must have ironic distance from the magical world view for the realism not to be compromised. Authorial reticence refers to the lack of clear opinions about the accuracy of events and the credibility of the world views expressed by the characters in the text. Unusual sequence of events and POV – fragmented time sequences, flashbacks, stream of consciousness, frequently switching point of view The Supernatural and Natural—In magical realism, the supernatural is not displayed as questionable. Realistic setting and conflict (often points out or protests social or political concerns) Realistic setting and conflict (often points out or protests social or political concerns) Elements patterned on fairytales, tall tales, mythology, the mystic/spiritual, folklore, and a bond with the traditions or faith of a community. Events presented as absolutely real and often go unquestioned but have dreamlike or fairy-tale like qualities. Elements patterned on fairytales, tall tales, mythology, the mystic/spiritual, folklore, and a bond with the traditions or faith of a community. Events presented as absolutely real and often go unquestioned but have dreamlike or fairy-tale like qualities.

Application to Beloved Hybridity – Hybridity – Supernatural – Supernatural – Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Experimental structure: Folklore? Folklore?

Application to Beloved Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Supernatural – Supernatural – Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Experimental structure: Foiklore:

Application to Beloved Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Experimental structure: Folklore?

Application to Beloved Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Set in 1873 just after the American Civil War (1861–1865), it is based on the true story of the African-American slave, Margaret Garner, who escaped slavery in 1856 in Kentucky by fleeing to Ohio Experimental structure: Folklore?

Application to Beloved Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Set in 1873 just after the American Civil War (1861–1865), it is based on the true story of the African-American slave, Margaret Garner, who escaped slavery in 1856 in Kentucky by fleeing to Ohio Experimental structure: non-linear, flashbacks, fragmentation in stories, multiple POV switching frequently, stream of consciousness Incorporation of African folklore and beliefs about death

Application to Beloved Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Hybridity – morphing from the living to the dead and the “living dead” (not zombies). Also morphing from African to American, from slave to free… Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Supernatural – a ghost haunts the house quite literally but also metaphorically. The ghost materializes into a girl (this is questionable but there are subtle hints) Realistic Setting: Realistic Setting: Set in 1873 just after the American Civil War (1861–1865), it is based on the true story of the African- American slave, Margaret Garner, who escaped slavery in 1856 in Kentucky by fleeing to Ohio Experimental structure: non-linear, flashbacks, fragmentation in stories, multiple POV switching frequently, stream of consciousness Incorporation of African folklore and beliefs about death

What we need to look for… How does Morrison’s techniques (elements of magical realism) affect our interpretation and experience of this story? How does Morrison’s techniques (elements of magical realism) affect our interpretation and experience of this story? How does magical realism and the structure of the story reinforce the themes and meaning of the work as a whole? How does magical realism and the structure of the story reinforce the themes and meaning of the work as a whole?