LOCATING THE SUPERNATURAL: A COMPARISON OF MAGICAL REALISM AND FANTASY FICTION

Abstract

Author(s): Aslı DEĞİRMENCİ

Magical realism and fantasy fiction share the quality of treating the magical and supernatural elements quite favorably. However, there are certain differences in how it each employs those supernatural elements. This study suggests that the main difference in employing the supernatural elements in these genres is the fact that while in magical realism the supernatural is possible in our contemporary world and accepted as a mundane part of reality, in fantasy fiction the supernatural is trapped in completely make-belief worlds with no reference to our world. It is argued that the setting of the stories, in terms of both location and time, is quite significant in determining how the supernatural is presented in those specific ways. Explaining the typical patterns of the choice of setting with examples from renowned examples of both genres, the difference between magical realism and fantasy fiction is thoroughly examined. Questioning the reason for this difference in the treatment of the supernatural, this study also tackles the question whether where these genres have originated and continue to be produced is influential. Accordingly, it also looks at the underlying cultural and socioeconomic reasons that prompt the writers to use the supernatural in their fiction in these specific ways in addition to the different stages of capitalism in the countries and societies from which these two genres of fiction mainly emerge

Announcements

You can send your paper at Online Submission System

  • The Journal of International Social Research / Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi ISSN: 1307-9581, an international, peer-reviewed, on the web publication, from 2007 will be issued least four times annualy.
  • Our journal is an independent academic publication based on research in social sciences, contributing to its field and trying to publish scientific articles that will bring innovation to the original and social sciences.
  • The journal has got an international editorial board and referee board, mainly embodied from the each individually professional on the social research fields.
  • Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi / The Journal of International Social Research became a member of Cross Reff since 2014 and started to assign DOI numbers to the articles. image
Google Scholar citation report
Citations : 7760

The Journal of International Social Research received 7760 citations as per Google Scholar report

The Journal of International Social Research peer review process verified by publons
Get the App