Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on February 15, 2009 at 4:21pm

Well, William S. Burroughs is not my favorite, but Naked Lunch is quite absurdist at times. (Mmm, Mugwamp jizm anyone?)

So is Forbidden Zone (image above). Though I have not seen that in years. Brazil is also quite absurd at times, though not my favorite.

I'm sure I could think of others over time. I know I've come across a lot of absurdism in art over the years.

Do you consider Bizarre to be Absurd as well?

Permalink Reply by Sean T. on February 15, 2009 at 4:32pm

Bizarre? No, not necessarily. There's also the Theatre of the Absurd, though.

Permalink Reply by Sean T. on February 15, 2009 at 4:25pm

Here's a clip from the movie Fight Club. Listen to what Brad Pitt says at the end of the clip.
Living with the Absurd is a lot like having a gun always pressed against the back of our head. It's a constant reminder to go after what we want now because there is no tomorrow. It's a reminder to cherish every moment we have as if it's our last, because it actually could be our last.

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on February 15, 2009 at 6:45pm

Sorry, I forgot to select "follow" on this dicussion. I love Fight Club! I want to read the book soon.

I'll read that Theatre of the Absurd as soon as I can.

You said "Living with the Absurd is a lot like having a gun always pressed against the back of our head. It's a constant reminder to go after what we want now because there is no tomorrow. It's a reminder to cherish every moment we have as if it's our last, because it actually could be our last."

But I don't necessarily agree with the choice of the word "absurd" here. I think that "awareness of death" is more apropos than "absurd". To me, per your earlier post too, absurd deals more with the futility of life -- or the apparent futility (among other things).

Permalink Reply by Sean T. on February 15, 2009 at 6:50pm

The Absurd itself is the conflict between humanity's search for meaning and the indifference of the universe. Living with the Absurd is where the constant awareness of death comes from.

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on February 15, 2009 at 6:52pm

Well, when you put it that way, I can see your meaning. I'll need to study the absurd concept more perhaps, before I can comment more clearly. Those links you first posted are quite long. :)