Magic Realism, World Cinema, and the Avant-Garde

Exploring the history of magic realism, Magic Realism, World Cinema, and the Avant-Garde connects key figures and their ideas on art and reality.

This book explores the intricate and often contradictory history of magic realism through the perspectives of three influential figures: art historian Franz Roh, novelist Alejo Carpentier, and cultural critic Fredric Jameson. By examining their writings, the author draws connections between their political, aesthetic, and philosophical views, particularly regarding the interplay between art and reality. Their insights shed light on how magic realism has evolved and the various contexts in which it has thrived.

Magic Realism, World Cinema, and the Avant-Garde delves into the vast landscape of magic realism, which spans nearly a century and is frequently conflated with related artistic movements, especially surrealism. The book highlights the complex and often contradictory conditions of modernist Europe, which magic realism has embraced as it has spread globally. Through the works of filmmakers and writers discussed, the text emphasizes the significance of emotion, atmosphere, and mood in challenging and resisting the forces of global capitalism.

This study is particularly valuable for readers interested in the intersections of world modernism and contemporary cinema within a geopolitical context. The author provides a thorough analysis of film as a sensory, intermedial medium, appealing to scholars across various fields, including visual arts, literature, critical theory, and film philosophy. By uncovering a resistant form of world cinema that transcends geographical boundaries, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of magic realism and its cinematic expressions.