What is Magical Realism? The KEY Steps to Using it in Screenwriting

What is Magical Realism?

The phrase magical realism is really an oxymoron. But though contradictory, it describes what the genre truly is; a merging of fantasy and realism.

Magical realism is a sub-genre in film, literature and art. It tells a fictional story, portraying the real world with elements of magic and fantasy.

Characters within the realistic worlds of these stories do not question the fantastical attributes of their worlds. Instead, by not acknowledging the mystical aspects of their worlds as supernatural, these components become part of their realities. 

The characteristics of the magical realism genre have developed over time through different art forms. Creators have used their respective mediums – painting, writing and filmmaking – to aid in magical realism’s ever-evolving growth as a sub-genre.

Magical realism’s history is crucial to understanding its power, resonance and practicality. So let’s take a look at its origins…