Yes. But then isn't the invocation of "magical hispanism" itself a kind of magic? I mean, what is it besides the combination of desire, error, and hyperbole that lies behind all cultural generalization? Does it really exist? Is anyone actually in its thrall (and not simply subject to their own damned vanity, stupidity, laziness)? Does Magical Hispanism possess anyone? Is it the duende? I ask you.
You know there's that RGE article that says sardonically that the Hispanist work on magical realism is "magical criticism" - I think I mentioned this but perhaps I did not.
Meanwhile I have come across an article that talk about FAKE magical realism!!!
Alyson Miller 2014, Postcolonial Text 195 Views 17 Pages 1 File ▾
Magical Realism, Fakes
This paper focuses on what might be described as a fake magical realist memoir, Nasdijj’s The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams, which was alleged to be the autobiography of a Navajo Indian but which was in fact written by the Anglo-American Timothy Barrus. While a magical realist memoir—as an obvious fake—might sound like a contradiction in terms, in this paper we are interested in the ways in which magical realist literature and memoir intersect not only in Nasdijj’s text but also in their cultural function as commodified discourses of authenticity. Memoir relies on its encoding as a truthful genre, its appeal embedded in an implicit promise to reveal the true lives of others. When it comes to ethnic memoirs such as Nasdijj’s, otherness is brought to the fore and, at the same time, generalized and even nationalized. As noted by Gillian Whitlock, the ethnic memoirist “speaks on behalf of a collective, a subordinate speaking truth to power” (20).
That reminds of the Carlos Casteñada books that were popular in our youth. Magical realism came into fashion around the time that New Age spirituality was in the mix.
Very sacrilegiously I think decoloniality and all the interest in "alternative form of knowing" is magical realist as well. Unlike you, I'm fine with all forms of divination, etc., I'm not what my friend calls a "mid-century rationalist," and I don't see them as anti-science at all, I'm more concerned about going to Catholic MDs. HOWEVER I fail to see how these so-called "decolonial practices" ARE decolonial and not cultural appropriation or something, and my bet is that a march on Washington organized by me will do more good for the colonized than me trying to turn myself into a non-Western person.
It seems that all the ideas I have that are interesting, are original and controversial. This is not good for fast vita-building unless you have strong belief in self. But I find that I fail to finish projects unless I say what I think.
I remember now that I realized I was going to flunk my comps unless I organized my recall, and arguments, and everything around my actual ideas and considered opinions. It was too much material to fake a "balanced" or safe point of view. What a professor said: "I've never seen you write with conviction like that before, so that was good, and you took a major risk stating the views you did, so it was good you knew enough to be able to back them up. You can have a brilliant career, I didn't realize this before, but you can."
What I thought, then: Gosh, this poor professor has really been cowed by the establishment. What I should have thought: She is saying what others never have and may not soon again, but what is true. So now, I could write this as a piece to entertain her.
I know you knew Duncan. I was thinking just now of the Magic and Poetry workshops that Berkeley renaissance poets had done (Duncan, Blaser, Spicer). https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/poetrycenter/bundles/191225
It seems there is decoloniality that is not magic. I am trying to find out how it is different from just being able to look at things from someone else's point of view. How it is different from historicism, even.
12 comments:
Yes. But then isn't the invocation of "magical hispanism" itself a kind of magic? I mean, what is it besides the combination of desire, error, and hyperbole that lies behind all cultural generalization? Does it really exist? Is anyone actually in its thrall (and not simply subject to their own damned vanity, stupidity, laziness)? Does Magical Hispanism possess anyone? Is it the duende? I ask you.
Also, Bill Evans did some really good work with Shelly Manne. I apologize. It's Friday night here now.
You know there's that RGE article that says sardonically that the Hispanist work on magical realism is "magical criticism" - I think I mentioned this but perhaps I did not.
Meanwhile I have come across an article that talk about FAKE magical realism!!!
Nasdijj's Fake Magical Realist Memoir? Re-envisioning Magical Realism's Relationship with Fakery
Alyson Miller
2014, Postcolonial Text
195 Views
17 Pages
1 File ▾
Magical Realism, Fakes
This paper focuses on what might be described as a fake magical realist memoir, Nasdijj’s The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams, which was alleged to be the autobiography of a Navajo Indian but which was in fact written by the Anglo-American Timothy Barrus. While a magical realist memoir—as an obvious fake—might sound like a contradiction in terms, in this paper we are interested in the ways in which magical realist literature and memoir intersect not only in Nasdijj’s text but also in their cultural function as commodified discourses of authenticity. Memoir relies on its encoding as a truthful genre, its appeal embedded in an implicit promise to reveal the true lives of others. When it comes to ethnic memoirs such as Nasdijj’s, otherness is brought to the fore and, at the same time, generalized and even nationalized. As noted by Gillian Whitlock, the ethnic memoirist “speaks on behalf of a collective, a subordinate speaking truth to power” (20).
That reminds of the Carlos Casteñada books that were popular in our youth. Magical realism came into fashion around the time that New Age spirituality was in the mix.
Very sacrilegiously I think decoloniality and all the interest in "alternative form of knowing" is magical realist as well. Unlike you, I'm fine with all forms of divination, etc., I'm not what my friend calls a "mid-century rationalist," and I don't see them as anti-science at all, I'm more concerned about going to Catholic MDs. HOWEVER I fail to see how these so-called "decolonial practices" ARE decolonial and not cultural appropriation or something, and my bet is that a march on Washington organized by me will do more good for the colonized than me trying to turn myself into a non-Western person.
"Alternate ways of knowing" = very magical, colonial wishful thinking. It's hard to escape though. I've found myself part of a zen sangha how.
Yes. But I don't think anyone has written about decoloniality like this. I think I will just have to
You need to do this. It would be both original and controversial, for sure.
It seems that all the ideas I have that are interesting, are original and controversial. This is not good for fast vita-building unless you have strong belief in self. But I find that I fail to finish projects unless I say what I think.
I remember now that I realized I was going to flunk my comps unless I organized my recall, and arguments, and everything around my actual ideas and considered opinions. It was too much material to fake a "balanced" or safe point of view. What a professor said: "I've never seen you write with conviction like that before, so that was good, and you took a major risk stating the views you did, so it was good you knew enough to be able to back them up. You can have a brilliant career, I didn't realize this before, but you can."
What I thought, then: Gosh, this poor professor has really been cowed by the establishment. What I should have thought: She is saying what others never have and may not soon again, but what is true. So now, I could write this as a piece to entertain her.
I know you knew Duncan. I was thinking just now of the Magic and Poetry workshops that Berkeley renaissance poets had done (Duncan, Blaser, Spicer). https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/poetrycenter/bundles/191225
OMG this too is connected. !!!
It seems there is decoloniality that is not magic. I am trying to find out how it is different from just being able to look at things from someone else's point of view. How it is different from historicism, even.
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