Murakami & Magical Realism
Explore the literary mode and theoretical implications of magical realism in light of three of Murakami's most bizarre novels.
“Narrow minds devoid of imagination. Intolerance, theories cut off from reality, empty terminology, usurped ideals, inflexible systems. Those are the things that really frighten me. What I absolutely fear and loathe.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
Together we will learn about the nuances of magical realism and see how Murakami's writing beautifully illustrates this genre. Magical Realism is a genre of literature in which fantastical, magical, and other-worldly occurrences are treated as not just possible, but realistic. In many of Murakami's novels, readers experience these magical elements as they are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. With one eye always on the story, this course explores the fantastic, the unbelievable, the beautiful, the uncanny, and the absurd to watch how meaning is made as all of these elements unite to create one compelling story after another. In addition to learning about the nuances in the genre of magical realism, this adult literature course also considers the various narrative devices and classic literary elements found in each novel.
Course Reading:
This Course Includes:
- Comprehensive overview of magical realism
- Recorded live discussions
- Supplemental reading and resources
- Engaging written discussions
If you love and celebrate the power of story in literature, but you want to do dig deeper into the theories and philosophies influencing each work, then this course is for you. Each lecture is designed to explain the nuances of magical realism and amplify your reading experience of the current novel.
Your Instructor
Jessica S. Manuel is a reader, writer, and college professor. Her work explores the intersections of contemporary theories and philosophies with classic and contemporary literature.
She earned her B.A. in English with an emphasis in Critical Theory and a minor in Theological Studies from The Master's University. She went on to earn her M.A. in English (Literature) from San Francisco State University where she studied 19th-20th Century Literatures with a special studies emphasis in Critical Theory. After examining the intersections of psychoanalysis and contemporary literature, she wrote her thesis on Haruki Murakami's use of the unconscious in Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
After earning her M.A., she continued her education at University of California, San Diego where she studied and earned certificates in teaching adult learners, literature, and online teaching and learning. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design at Clemson University.
Jessica offers online adult literature courses and reading groups for life-long learners through Book Oblivion Academy and also teaches writing and literature courses at the college level.