WRIT32402 - Magic as Metaphor

Course Description

Magical realism is the term used to describe a subset of literary fiction where magic is injected into an otherwise realistic setting, often as a metaphor to express the author’s view of a particular political or social situation. It is frequently associated with Latin American fiction, but in fact is employed by major authors all over the world. Two famous magical realists, Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, received the Nobel Prize in Literature for their writings in this vein.

In this four-week class, we will examine four potential styles of magical realism: political, psychological, animistic, and mythological. Each week, students will read and discuss a short story from a representative view and write a two- to four-page story, or introduction to a story, with magic as a central element. Over the course of the four weeks, each student will read selections of their work aloud and receive feedback from the class.

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