ABSURDISM ABSURDISM AND AND

THEATRE OF THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURDABSURD

ABSURDISMABSURDISM A philosophy born out of the existential A philosophy born out of the existential

movement…prompted by writers like movement…prompted by writers like Albert Camus. The philosophy is centered Albert Camus. The philosophy is centered on the belief that the life is meaningless on the belief that the life is meaningless and absurd. and absurd.

The aftermath of WWII provided the social The aftermath of WWII provided the social environment that stimulated absurdist environment that stimulated absurdist views and allowed for their popularity, views and allowed for their popularity, especially in war-torn France.especially in war-torn France.

AN EXISTENTIAL AN EXISTENTIAL CROSSROADSCROSSROADS

Humans historically attempt to find meaning in Humans historically attempt to find meaning in the universe, according to Absurdism. This search the universe, according to Absurdism. This search traditionally follows one of two paths: either traditionally follows one of two paths: either concluding that life is meaningless and what we concluding that life is meaningless and what we have is the here and now or filling the void with a have is the here and now or filling the void with a purpose set forth by some higher power, often a purpose set forth by some higher power, often a belief in God or adherence to religious precepts. belief in God or adherence to religious precepts. However, even with a spiritual power as the However, even with a spiritual power as the answer to meaning, another question is posed: answer to meaning, another question is posed: What is the purpose of God? Soren Kierkegaard, a What is the purpose of God? Soren Kierkegaard, a famous existentialist, believed that there is no famous existentialist, believed that there is no human-comprehendable purpose of God, making human-comprehendable purpose of God, making faith in God absolutely absurd!!!faith in God absolutely absurd!!!

THE ABSURD PATHTHE ABSURD PATH Absurdism goes against the human inclination to find Absurdism goes against the human inclination to find

meaning in the universe; it claims that the search is in meaning in the universe; it claims that the search is in vain…which begs the question: why bother at all?vain…which begs the question: why bother at all?

CAMUS SAYS CHECK YOCAMUS SAYS CHECK YO’’SELF SELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOBEFORE YOU WRECK YO’’SELFSELF

For some, suicide seems like a For some, suicide seems like a solution when confronted with the solution when confronted with the futility of living a life devoid of futility of living a life devoid of purpose, but Camuspurpose, but Camus’’s argument in s argument in ““The Myth of SisyphusThe Myth of Sisyphus”” is to accept is to accept the ostensible absurdity of existence the ostensible absurdity of existence and find your own and find your own passionpassion and and purposepurpose in the midst of apparent in the midst of apparent meaninglessness. meaninglessness.

WOO-HOO!WOO-HOO!

THEATRE OF THE ABSURDTHEATRE OF THE ABSURD The Theatre of the AbsurdThe Theatre of the Absurd, or , or Theater of the Theater of the

AbsurdAbsurd is a label for plays written by a number is a label for plays written by a number of European playwrights in the late 1940s, 50s of European playwrights in the late 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as to the style of theatre which and 60s, as well as to the style of theatre which has evolved from their work.has evolved from their work.

The 'Theatre of the Absurd' is thought to have its The 'Theatre of the Absurd' is thought to have its origins in Dadaism, nonsense poetry, and avant-origins in Dadaism, nonsense poetry, and avant-garde art of the 1910s – 1920s. Despite its critics, garde art of the 1910s – 1920s. Despite its critics, this genre of theatre achieved popularity when this genre of theatre achieved popularity when World War II highlighted the essential World War II highlighted the essential precariousness of human life. The "Absurd" or precariousness of human life. The "Absurd" or "New Theater" movement was, in its origin, "New Theater" movement was, in its origin, distinctly Paris-based; the movement only gained distinctly Paris-based; the movement only gained international prominence over time.international prominence over time.

THEATRE OF THE ABSURD THEATRE OF THE ABSURD PLAYWRIGHTSPLAYWRIGHTS

Eugène Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Jean Genet, Arthur Adamov, Edward Jean Genet, Arthur Adamov, Edward Albee and Tom Stoppard. Albee and Tom Stoppard.

THEATRE OF THE ABSURD THEATRE OF THE ABSURD CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS

Ambiguous time, place and identity Ambiguous time, place and identity Meaningless plots Meaningless plots Repetitive or nonsensical dialogueRepetitive or nonsensical dialogueDramatic non-sequiturs used to Dramatic non-sequiturs used to

create dream-like or nightmare-like create dream-like or nightmare-like moods.moods.

Absurd Hero (anti-hero) Absurd Hero (anti-hero)

ARE THE PLAYS AS POINTLESS ARE THE PLAYS AS POINTLESS AS THE LIFE THEY ARE AS THE LIFE THEY ARE

PORTRAYING?PORTRAYING?There is a fine line, however, There is a fine line, however,

between the careful and artful use of between the careful and artful use of chaos and non-realistic elements and chaos and non-realistic elements and true, meaningless chaos. While many true, meaningless chaos. While many of the absurdist plays seem to be of the absurdist plays seem to be quite random and meaningless on quite random and meaningless on the surface, an underlying structure the surface, an underlying structure and meaning is usually found in the and meaning is usually found in the midst of the chaos.midst of the chaos.

WHY WOULD AN ENTIRE TOWN WHY WOULD AN ENTIRE TOWN TURN INTO RHINOCEROSES?TURN INTO RHINOCEROSES?

CONSIDER THESE EXCERPTS CONSIDER THESE EXCERPTS FROM IONESCOFROM IONESCO’’S DIARY…S DIARY…

In 1940 Eugene Ionesco wrote an entry in In 1940 Eugene Ionesco wrote an entry in his diary discussing the Nazi regime. his diary discussing the Nazi regime. Excerpt #1:Excerpt #1:

““The police are rhinoceroses. The The police are rhinoceroses. The magistrates are rhinoceroses. You are the magistrates are rhinoceroses. You are the only man among the rhinoceroses. The only man among the rhinoceroses. The rhinoceroses ask themselves how the rhinoceroses ask themselves how the world can have been run by men. You ask world can have been run by men. You ask yourself: is it true the world was once run yourself: is it true the world was once run by men?by men?””

DIARY EXCERPT #2DIARY EXCERPT #2

He discusses how he watched his once anti-He discusses how he watched his once anti-fascist friends slowly become fascists:fascist friends slowly become fascists:

““I was talking to him. He was still a man. I was talking to him. He was still a man. Suddenly under my eyes I saw his skin Suddenly under my eyes I saw his skin hardening and thickening fearfully. His gloves, hardening and thickening fearfully. His gloves, his shoes become hooves; his hands become his shoes become hooves; his hands become paws. A horn grows on his forehead, he paws. A horn grows on his forehead, he becomes fierce, he changes furiously. He no becomes fierce, he changes furiously. He no longer knows how to talk. He is becoming a longer knows how to talk. He is becoming a rhinoceros. All of a sudden, I wish I could do rhinoceros. All of a sudden, I wish I could do the same. But me, I canthe same. But me, I can’’t.t.””

THE ENDTHE END