Magical Realism

Tropes and genres
Synonym(s)	magic realism
Related tropes/genres	Bodyswap, Genderswap, Merpeople, Wings in Fanworks
See also	Magic (trope)
Related articles on Fanlore.

Magical realism, or magic realism, is a genre in which fantastical or otherworldly elements are present in what is an otherwise ordinary or mundane setting.

The term arose to describe a particular strain of Latin American literature and its literary descendants. In fandom, it is sometimes applied more broadly, though there is some debate about whether this is just cultural appropriation and a misunderstanding of the term.

Bodyswap, genderswap, wingfic and other such tropes often fall into this genre, particularly when the physical change in question happens suddenly or without explanation. Time distortions, psychic abilities, curses and the appearance of mythical creatures (e.g. dragons) are also not uncommon.

The balance between magical and mundane is the defining characteristic of this genre; therefore, fics set in environments that are canonically magical or in any way extraordinary (e.g. Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, et.al.) are generally not considered examples of magical realism.

History of the Genre

The first emergence of magical realism in fanfiction is unclear.

Magical realism was highly visible from the early 2000s through the mid 2000s in RPF fandoms such as popslash, bandom and Lotrips; the genre's dependence on real world settings means that it has been warmly embraced by RPF fandoms.

It was also popular in Due South. A fan wrote: ""For reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture" is possibly the most useful phrase EVAR. Every fandom should have something akin... it's just unfortunate every fandom isn't steeped in convention-warping magical realism."

Examples in Fanfiction

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Popslash & Bandom

• The Same Inside (2001) and be able to stop, popslash genderswap fics by Helen
• Stacked, Trade and Before You, popslash genderswap fics by Synchronik
• Isle of View, a popslash bodyswap fic by Sandy the Older
• What He Wants, by Rhys, a popslash story in which Chris Kirkpatrick develops psychic powers.
• Pseudo Ugly, by Rhys, a modernized fairy tale in which a member of 'N Sync undergoes a curse.
• Quotidian, a popslash fic by Lesa Soja in which time repeats itself
• Water, a popslash fic by Lesa Soja, examining the mutability of sexuality in slash.
• A ryght cruell beast (2003), a popslash fic by torch
• Becoming, by Kaneko, a popslash fic involving curses
• shed a light, a popslash fic by Lilysaid
• bloom, popslash by kel
• The Other Side of the Street, a popslash bodyswap fic by Puszysty
• heart of stone, eyes of tree and Rakes at the Gates of Hell, popslash stories by Synecdochic
• Fuckette, a gsf popslash fic by Calico, in which JC is a siren.
• 42 1/2, a popslash fic by Allecto. Chris is Santa's helper. Joey/Lance.
• many things lacking names, a bandom fic by provetheworst

Other Fandoms

• The Doors of Time, a J2 AU by felisblanco
• Beyond Embarrassment, a Due South fic by Speranza
• La Adelita, Like Water for Chocolate story by Eruthros
• All That's Left to Chart, a J2 AU by ignited
• The Babel Fish Has Forsaken Us and Sixteen Snapshots From the House of Pachinko, both by indiachick (Supernatural)
• lay your head on the riverbed: a One Direction/Radio 1 RPF Tomlinshaw AU where Louis is a river monster, by stigmata
• The Pearl of the Antilles: a Hunger Games fanfiction/historic AU in which Peeta Mellark is the Captain of the French Army and Katniss Everdeen is a mulatta courtesan. Steeped in voodoo, The Pearl of the Antilles invokes many of the genres tropes, by titania522

Meta

• Meta on Magical Realism by ChokolatteJedi (2018)