IMF 51641 Fiction: Magical Realism Workshop W

Instructor

Chris Candice

Class Type

Literature & Workshop

Course Description

Mysterious winged-men, wartime witches, vegan vampires, hunger artists, and impossible libraries populate the pages of literature’s most enduring magical realists. Born by combining political commentary with communal myths, the magical realist writing tradition aims to engage readers by infusing real world settings, characters, and events with the otherworldly. This course will examine how contemporary magical realist stories cut across culture and time to probe fundamental mysteries of the human condition. Stories by authors including Luis Jorge Borges, Ben Okri, Franz Kafka, Toni Morrison, Karen Russell, and more will be thoughtfully examined for reoccurring symbolism and structure to discover the purpose and power inherent in storytelling. Knowledge gained from the course readings will be synthesized in written responses and small pastiches that will eventually culminate in the creation of an original short story utilizing magical realist techniques.