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Why has magic realism been linked to the experience of postcolonial societies in Latin America?

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Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo, Francisco Javier — Latin American literature Francisco Javier Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo, statue at Central Station, Sydney, Austl.

Magic realism is often linked to the postcolonial experience in Latin America because it serves as a narrative strategy to reconcile two distinct and often conflicting realities: the perspective of the conquerors and that of the conquered.12

By incorporating fantastic, mythical, or extranatural elements into an otherwise realistic framework, writers can depict a world where these dueling realities coexist. This approach allows authors to document the complexities of Latin American history—such as political turmoil, social exploitation, and the struggle against nature—through a lens that acknowledges the validity of indigenous, African, and colonial belief systems alongside traditional Western standards.123

Ultimately, this style provides a way to tell truths that might otherwise be obscured, reflecting the "truth is stranger than fiction" nature of the region's turbulent sociopolitical landscape.2