magic realism

noun

1
: painting in a meticulously realistic style of imaginary or fantastic scenes or images
2
: a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction

called also magical realism

magic realist noun

Examples of magic realism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The film is adapted from Juan Rulfo’s 1955 novel by screenwriter Mateo Gil; the book is billed as a direct influence on author Gabriel García Márquez in establishing magic realism within Mexican literary history. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024 The film, in time, becomes an exercise in magic realism, serving as an allegory with a number of possible interpretations. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 July 2024 Tapping into magic realism, José Ignacio makes a pact with a Jequitibá tree, and wins the love of Maria Santa, who dies giving birth to João Pedro, resented by his father for years to come. John Hopewell, Variety, 14 May 2024 García Márquez’s work has survived legions of imitators who have misunderstood magic realism as a stylistic mannerism rather than the means to a sharper, less omniscient reality. Michael Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for magic realism 

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of magic realism was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near magic realism

Cite this Entry

“Magic realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magic%20realism. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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