5282 Series 5: Episode 22
27th July 2026
In: 5282 BLOG
Borges and Magical Realism
Jorge Luis Borges. Argentinian poet, essayist and short story writer prolific from the 1920s onwards. Extraordinarily influential even though he wasn't widely known to north American or European readers until 1961. Also connected to the literary genre of 'Magical Realism' (M.R.). But was he a magical realist? And just what is M.R.?
Dave leads the discussion and uses "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" as an example of how tricky pinning down both M.R.and Borges is.
We can't even say if the moon is really there if you are not looking at it, that's how bad it gets. No wonder Kevin was nonplussed.
Complicating matters (yes, really) is that we originally planned this to be one episode with two topics, Borges, and El Pampero Cine. Both recorded on the same day, we are publishing both as separate episodes. Offering you sort of listen to one, get another one .... to listen to.
And to think, I used to work in marketing.......
Listen to Borges and Magical Realism
Full links to this episode:
University of Pittsburgh Borges Center
New York Times Archive. On Borges, Particles and the Paradox of the Perceived By William Egginton
Journal of History Culture and Art Research: Magical Realism and its European Essence
Article. Seymore Menton: Borges, Magic Realist
PDF English translation of Tlon, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius
Magical Realism: Painters
Given the nebulous nature of the genre, many famous and not so famous names are associated with the magical realism art genre. Two prime examples:
Georg Schrimpf on Artnet site
Charles Sheerer on The Art Story site
Books
Authors to consider include:
Gabriel García Márquez, Isabell Allende, Jorge Amando and and nobel laureate Josze Saramago.
Salman Rushdie and A S Byatt. Umberto Eco, Toni Morrison and Angela Carter.
At a stretch, Mark Helprin.
Film and TV
Very difficult, as all film and TV is a bit magical, a bit real.
IMDB has this unhelpful list (one of many) we can all argue about.
Read the El Pampero Cine film on Borges article
We make no revenue from links or recommendations.
Hosts Kevin Petch, Phil Todd and David Benn.
Produced by Kevin Petch for Out Of Left Field.
Thanks for supporting 5282.
Jorge Luis Borges. Argentinian poet, essayist and short story writer prolific from the 1920s onwards. Extraordinarily influential even though he wasn't widely known to north American or European readers until 1961. Also connected to the literary genre of 'Magical Realism' (M.R.). But was he a magical realist? And just what is M.R.?
Dave leads the discussion and uses "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" as an example of how tricky pinning down both M.R.and Borges is.
We can't even say if the moon is really there if you are not looking at it, that's how bad it gets. No wonder Kevin was nonplussed.
Complicating matters (yes, really) is that we originally planned this to be one episode with two topics, Borges, and El Pampero Cine. Both recorded on the same day, we are publishing both as separate episodes. Offering you sort of listen to one, get another one .... to listen to.
And to think, I used to work in marketing.......
Listen to Borges and Magical Realism
Full links to this episode:
University of Pittsburgh Borges Center
New York Times Archive. On Borges, Particles and the Paradox of the Perceived By William Egginton
Journal of History Culture and Art Research: Magical Realism and its European Essence
Article. Seymore Menton: Borges, Magic Realist
PDF English translation of Tlon, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius
Magical Realism: Painters
Given the nebulous nature of the genre, many famous and not so famous names are associated with the magical realism art genre. Two prime examples:
Georg Schrimpf on Artnet site
Charles Sheerer on The Art Story site
Books
Authors to consider include:
Gabriel García Márquez, Isabell Allende, Jorge Amando and and nobel laureate Josze Saramago.
Salman Rushdie and A S Byatt. Umberto Eco, Toni Morrison and Angela Carter.
At a stretch, Mark Helprin.
Film and TV
Very difficult, as all film and TV is a bit magical, a bit real.
IMDB has this unhelpful list (one of many) we can all argue about.
Read the El Pampero Cine film on Borges article
We make no revenue from links or recommendations.
Hosts Kevin Petch, Phil Todd and David Benn.
Produced by Kevin Petch for Out Of Left Field.
Thanks for supporting 5282.