Book contents
- Magical Realism and Literature
- Cambridge Critical Concepts
- Magical Realism and Literature
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Origins
- Part II Development
- Chapter 6 Magical Realism and the ‘Boom’ of the Latin American Novel
- Chapter 7 Magical Realism
- Chapter 8 Beautiful Lies
- Chapter 9 Myth, Orality and the African Novel
- Chapter 10 Breaking Boundaries
- Chapter 11 East Asian Magical Realism
- Chapter 12 Magic and Realism in South Asia
- Chapter 13 Fantastic Cohabitations
- Part III Application
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 11 - East Asian Magical Realism
from Part II - Development
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 October 2020
- Magical Realism and Literature
- Cambridge Critical Concepts
- Magical Realism and Literature
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Origins
- Part II Development
- Chapter 6 Magical Realism and the ‘Boom’ of the Latin American Novel
- Chapter 7 Magical Realism
- Chapter 8 Beautiful Lies
- Chapter 9 Myth, Orality and the African Novel
- Chapter 10 Breaking Boundaries
- Chapter 11 East Asian Magical Realism
- Chapter 12 Magic and Realism in South Asia
- Chapter 13 Fantastic Cohabitations
- Part III Application
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
This chapter argues that the proliferation of magical realist fiction in East Asia since the 1980s is a testament to both the narrative mode’s adaptability in cultures beyond the West and different authors’ ability to refashion magical realist elements into distinctive styles of writing that draw on local literary traditions and influences. Magical realism in East Asia reflects a shared approach to addressing contemporary issues that result from modernity, rapid economic development and increasing integration between East and West, the erosion of traditional cultures and values, authoritarian political regimes and environmental degradation. This chapter focuses primarily on writers from China (Mo Yan, Yu Hua and Yan Lianke), but also covers authors from Taiwan (Wu Ming-yi), Japan (Banana Yoshimoto) and South Korea (Hwang Sok-yong) in order to illustrate the wide variety and innovative nature of magical realist fiction in this region.
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- Information
- Magical Realism and Literature , pp. 182 - 197Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020