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Roh saw it as the next wave of artistic breakthroughs following the Surrealist and Expressionist movements. In the case of Magical Realism and its definition, German art critic Franz Roh officially coined the term in 1925. Philosophers such as Kant, Heidegger, and Schopenhauer established some of the most thought-provoking doctrines ever conceived. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Germany was known to have some of the greatest philosophers, writers, and revolutionary thinkers in the world. The origins of the term Magical Realism as a defined genre are believed to have originated in Germany. Magical Realism's Place in the Visual Arts In it, anything is possible, and although based in the real world, the regular rules don't apply as the doors of the imagination are opened wide and allowed to run wild and free. Nowadays, though, the depiction of magic is subtler and nuanced and is regarded as purely fantastical and imaginary.įrom this non-physical point of view, the Magical Realism art movement was born and took root. In ancient times, this was expressed through physical and literal means through practices such as alchemy and ritual. For as long as civilization has existed, human beings have tried to capture the essence and encapsulate in words and images what is known in English today as "Magic." In reality, Magical Realism is one of the oldest art movements known to humankind. As well as being a method of painting with its own distinct style and principles, the term can also refer to literature, film and television, video games, or even expressions such as music and dance. As a broad Magic Realism definition, Magical Realism can refer to many things and covers many different artistic bases.
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