Writing and Reading Magical Realism: A Multidimensional Approach to Multicultural Literature

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Writing and Reading Magical Realism A
Multidimensional Approach to Multicultural
Literature

• Roger S. Baskin, Educational Specialist
• Office of Student Achievement

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Definition

• Magical realism is a genre of literature that
  treats supernatural occurrences as mundane and
  the mundane as fantastic. It is typically viewed
  as literature that gives voice to people who
  include the supernatural in their understanding
  of reality. Though often associated with Latin
  American authors, the genre is practiced
  throughout the world.

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Magical Realism is not

• Science Fiction
• Horror
• Fantasy

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Why is this genre significant?

• It is important for students to read texts that
  reflect their cultures and reflect them
  accurately Finding ways for students to make
  connections to their own lives and to other texts
  can build motivation in the most stubborn of
  readers.
• Bonnie M. Davis, How to Teach Students Who Dont
  Look Like You Culturally Relevant Teaching
  Strategies

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Why is the approach multidimensional?

• It takes into account learning preferences.
• It considers cultural diversity.
• It takes into account a variety of higher level
  thinking opportunities.

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Prompt 1

• Write about a time when you either witnessed an
  extraordinary occurrence or heard about such an
  occurrence from someone.
• We start with this prompt because magical realism
  is literature that treats supernatural,
  extraordinary events as commonplace.

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Prompt 2

• Write about an object that holds special
  significance for you that others may overlook.
  Why is it special to you, and how does it make
  you feel?
• We use this prompt because magical realism also
  treats ordinary aspects of life as if they are
  extraordinary.

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The Importance of the Personal

• Students perform much better in environments
  where they feel comfortable and valued. . .One
  way to do this is by legitimizing personal
  experiences as significant sources of knowledge.
  As a result, telling our personal stories plays
  a prominent part in our conversations as we
  struggle to capture the essence of educational
  ideas, theories, principals, and practices.
• Geneva Gay, Culturally Responsive Teaching
  Theory, Research, and Practice

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Prompt 3

• Use one of the five senses to experience this
  object. What makes this item unique, special,
  appealing? What personality does it possess?
  What power does it possess? Using one of the
  senses, describe it to someone who has never
  experienced this item.

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Prompt 3

• We use this prompt to familiarize students with
  two techniques writers use in this genre
  supplementation (romanticizing, adding detail)
  and defamiliarization (forcing the audience to
  see common things in an unfamiliar way). Both
  techniques help the writer celebrate the mundane.
  

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Daughters of the Dust

• Examples of the techniques of supplementation and
  defamiliarization are in the movie Daughters of
  the Dust.
• Notice the way the dance is supplemented. Notice
  the unique narrative voicean unborn child.

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Advantages of Writing Exercises

• Students create the literature before they read
  it.
• Students have a greater knowledge and
  appreciation of the craft of creating this genre.
• Major themes, imagery, and conflicts are
  introduced in the discussion of the
  student-generated literature.