Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Kerry's Wednesday Challenge

Today I invite you to dabble your ink-stained fingers in the streams of poetic magic.




Magical Realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of thought.


Professor of Japanese Studies, and author, Matthew Strecher defines magic realism as "...what happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe."


Taking the seminal work of the style, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, the reader must let go of pre-existing ties to conventional exposition, plot advancement, linear time structure, scientific reason to strive for a state of heightened awareness of life's connectedness or hidden meanings.



The information shared was sourced from Wikipedia.  Follow the link for the detailed explanation, but in layman's terms, Magical Realism makes the ordinary seem magical and/or the supernatural seem commonplace.  I have chosen these pictures as examples of the genre in art or photography, but this is not a picture prompt, so you do not have to use one for your own writing.  A Google image search opens Pandora's box, or feel free to write from your own magical heart.

16 comments:

Ella said...

How intriguing turning reality sideways, great prompt

Fireblossom said...

I think I may possibly be able to do this!

Scarlet said...

I love this prompt ~

Lolamouse said...

I immediately thought of a video I used to see on MTV when they still played music (yeah, I'm old!) It was really creepy. Love the prompt!

hedgewitch said...

Kerry, I have one written already for the first pic--it's one of my all time favorites, but I know you frown on linking pre-written poems for prompts, so will not link it without your okay. I think it does fit the idea of Magical Realism, though.

Kerry O'Connor said...

It's your good luck that you are way ahead of us Joy, so link away. I prefer work written for the prompt, it;s true, but I'm sure we would all like to see how the picture inspired you. Maybe you will feel inspired to write something else too ;)

I didn't think I could write anything worthy today, after a killer of a heatwave and exhausting day at work, but the words started of their own volition... I'm not wild about the concluding stanza, so would appreciate your thoughts.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I LOVE these prompts!!!!!!!! I made the mistake of reading Fireblossom's before I came in here to find the prompt. After reading hers, I felt so replete I felt I didnt need to write or read another word. But when I came in here and saw the elephant, my poem popped out fully-formed. Apparently I really like Magic Realism:)

hedgewitch said...

Thanks for your kind permission, Kerry. Your poem was not in need of any critique, imo, but I very much enjoyed reading it, and you certainly nailed the prompt, as well.

Susie Clevenger said...

Well, I think I probably blew this challenge, but it seemed the little kid in me wanted to write so I went with it.. :)

Fireblossom said...

Grrr, I'm getting really sick of people who link something that has zero to do with the challenge.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Feel free to ignore such links at will.

Mary Ann Potter said...

I used a few notes from an old idea. I'd been trying to write the poem for awhile, and this time the prompt prompted me to do it!

Cathy Feaster said...

I'm a little late but that was fun. I'm also gonna link an older poem I wrote that fits right in with this, I think :)

shawnacy said...

excellent prompt! i don't know if i have time to fashion anything new for this, but had to chime in with the intensity of my love for magical realism. sometimes it seems a grown-up version of a fairy tale... where the impossible happens, quietly and without fanfare, just as though it were part of the natural order of things. Marquez' Hundred Years of Solitude was a fairly clear turning point for me in what one was "allowed" to do with words. Excellent challenge, Kerry!

Ella said...

Finally! Phew, I love this prompt!
I found an artist that inspired my poem~ I'll be by to comment on all of your amazing magic!

Margaret said...

I still plan on doing this prompt someday... it isn't exactly up my alley and I have bombed a few times. I will keep plugging away, but it might take a few weeks. ;P