Magical Realism & its Influence on Latin America
Magical Realism & its Influence on Latin America
By Leslie A. Hernández Cruz
The magical realism genre exploded during the 20th century in Latin America and was a pivotal piece in the development of Latin America’s literary voice. Magical Realism has inspired and impacted a plethora of authors around the world throughout time.
Magical Realism is a literary genre that blends magical and fantasy components into a realistic setting. The fantastical components of the story are normally left unexplained, presented in a way that fits naturally to the realistic world built around them. The focus on the magical elements is utilized in this genre to represent something more than just what meets the eye. It conveys a deeper meaning in how the surrounding world interacts with the characters in the story.
The pre-Magical Realism literature era in Latin America had numerous authors trying to replicate the European literary voice in their works, due to the period’s emphasis on the civility and class of Western nations. Soon after this replication began, the Magical Realism movement surged. Influenced by the Surrealist movement from Europe, Latin American authors reinterpreted the genre and added their own spin to it. The genre burst in popularity in the 1940s, post World War II, and remained popular until the 1950s. In the 1960s, Magical Realism spread across the globe, bringing the world’s attention to Latin America. This influx of hyperattention influenced other countries to learn about the different Latin American countries’ cultures, societies, traditions, rich histories, struggles, and successes.
Some of the most popular authors from the Magical Realism genre include Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar, and Jorge Luis Borges. Their works, like Cien Años de Soledad, La Noche Boca Arriba, and El Aleph inspired artists of following generations around the world to follow in their footsteps.
In the present day, we can still see the influence of Magical Realism throughout pop culture. Movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), and Encanto represent strong influences from the genre. Modern books with Magical Realism influences include Gods by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Quichotte by Salman Rushdie, and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.
While the genre peaked nearly a century ago, Magical Realism still plays an important role in Latin American literature. Magical Realism and some of its pioneering authors have influenced artists around the world, reflecting the influence they took from the West right back into their hands.
