The Status of Magical Realism Concept in Thai Academic Works during 2000 - 2020

Abstract

The objective of this article is to synthesize the data regarding magical realism concept in Thai academic works over two decades (2000-2020) by collecting data from reference databases published in several websites. The results show that there are 20 Thai academic written works using the magical realism concept which consist of 10 academic articles, 7 dissertations, 2 published books, and 1 independent study from various academic institutions. These are works in Comparative Literature, Spanish Studies and Thai Studies from Chulalongkorn University; 7 works from the English Language and Literature Department, Thammasat University; 2 works from Art Theory and Thai Studies at Silapakorn University, and 1 research and 1 dissertation in Thai studies, Thai language and communication from Chiang Mai University and Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University. The genres of text under analysis varied from hybrid literary-genres, novels, movies, artworks, and a short story. Hybrid literary works and novels were the two most analysed among these. The study found that 4 concepts of magical realism were considerably employed in the analysis, namely progressive, social, specific, and comparative analysis. This paper also argued that Thai academic works regarding the concept of magical realism were mostly focused not only on language and literature, but also on interdisciplinary integration. Thus, the concept of magical realism can be understood as presumably widely accepted in Thai academia.