What is the difference between magical realism and urban fantasy? ?

Question

From what I've seen, it seems as though urban fantasy deals strictly with literature. Whereas magical realism encompasses both literature and other forms of art. Is this a correct assessment.

Answer 1

You are right. Magical realism can be in just about any form of art. I recently wrote in a short story in the style of magical realism for a college class.

Magic realism, or magical realism, is an artistic genre in which magical elements or illogical scenarios appear in an otherwise realistic or even "normal" setting.

Urban fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings--as opposed to 'traditional' fantasy set in wholly imaginary landscapes, even ones containing imaginary cities, or having most of their action take place in them. Urban fantasy may also refer to more modern versions of 'traditional' fantasy worlds. The modern urban fantasy protagonist faces extraordinary circumstances as plots unfold in either open (where magic or paranormal events are commonly accepted to exist) or closed (where magical powers or creatures are concealed) worlds.