Magical Realism Applied to the Field of Psychology Three Works Cited Over time, one finds many different categories of literature. Magical Realism, a relatively new category, appears to be one of, if not the most controversial categories of the last century. Magical Realism combines a magical, often grotesque, element with a reality-based backdrop and allows the reader to see life in a deeper way. The field of psychology, particularly the case of the Wild Child known as the Genie, closely parallels the ideals of Magical Realism. Magical Realism can combine two worlds or realms, allowing the reader to see beyond their own world. This fusion of two realms is a common feature of Magical Realism (Faris 172). The two worlds can be fantastic, sublime or even realistic. Genie, the wild child discovered in 1970, somehow managed to survive for thirteen years despite being imprisoned in a lonely room by her father. She was never loved, never spoken to, and was left tied to a potty day after day. When she was not completely forgotten, she was tied in a straitjacket and put to sleep in a caged crib. She was usually left cold, naked and hungry. When she was discovered and introduced to a world she knew nothing about, Genie adapted as best she could. Having not heard speech for nearly thirteen years, Genie had obvious language disabilities. Like the merging of the two different worlds in Magical Realism, this merging of the world of the Genie into the socialized world has become essential to the understanding of language acquisition. Defamiliarization, another feature of Magical Realism, is often employed by Magical Realism authors. The concept of defamiliarization involves an element of reality that is usually overlooked. This element is explored to new depths and understandings (Simpkins 150). This literary device can be applied to everyday life to explore aspects such as language acquisition. When Genie's world merged with reality, theories of language acquisition could be explored in a new way, just as defamiliarization provides a new perspective on reality. It was proposed that there was a critical period in a child's mental development. This period was essential for correct language acquisition and when this period does not occur, as in Genie's case, the child's language abilities are never fully achieved. When tested by doctors and psychiatrists, Genie performed surprisingly well on her visual tests, but extraordinarily poorly on her auditory tests. Throughout his life, Genie never exceeded a toddler's level of language development, which usually consists of two- or three-word sentences. You don't usually think about your own language or speech patterns because they are so familiar. However, this mode of communication can be considered extraordinary, or “defamiliarized,” when observed closely. The field of psychology, particularly the case of the Wild Child known as the Genie, closely parallels the ideals of Magical Realism. Magical Realism allows you to see reality through a clarified vision, remembering all the supernatural elements that exist in everyday life. However, many of Magical Realism's parallels in reality, such as the case of the Genie or even the Holocaust, contain a grotesque quality. The open-ended aspect of Magical Realism and its ability to convey raw emotion in a way that no other type of literature does may contribute to its strong appeal. Magical Realism clarifies reality and reveals beauty, or horror,, 1995: 145-159.