Which literary technique is most associated with Salman Rushdie's writing?

Salman Rushdie is renowned for his incorporation of magical realism in his writing, a technique that blends fantastical elements with realistic settings and events. This literary style allows for the exploration of complex themes such as identity, culture, and politics through a lens that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary. In Rushdie's work, magical realism often manifests through vibrant imagery and unexpected occurrences that reflect the socio-political landscape of his characters’ lives.

The effectiveness of magical realism in Rushdie’s novels helps to convey deeper truths about society and human experience by intertwining the extraordinary with the mundane. Classic examples of this can be found in his acclaimed novel "Midnight's Children," where the lives of the characters are intricately linked with India's historical events, showcasing how personal and collective narratives intersect within a magical framework.

While realism reflects a more direct representation of life without embellishment and surrealism plays with dream-like sequences, neither captures the unique blend of reality and magic that characterizes Rushdie’s work as closely as magical realism does. Although he incorporates aspects of post-modernism—such as self-reflexivity and a questioning of traditional narrative forms—the pervasive use of magical realism is a distinct hallmark of his literary artistry.