1. the Theatre of the Absurd

2. Outline  Greek roots  Camus’s essay “Myth” and Esslin  Popular:  Freud  WWII (nuclear)  Beckett  Traditional vs. Absurd  Language  Logic  Greek roots  Camus’s essay “Myth” and Esslin  Popular:  Freud  WWII (nuclear)  Beckett  Traditional vs. Absurd  Language  Logic

3. History of the Absurd: Roots: Greece  Absurd elements first made their appearance in Greek drama.

4. Term: “THEATRE OF THE ABSURD”  The Theatre of the Absurd is a term coined by Martin Esslin in 1962.  The term refers to a type of play which presented the philosophy of Albert Camus (articulated in his 1942 essay, The Myth of Sisyphus).  The Theatre of the Absurd is a term coined by Martin Esslin in 1962.  The term refers to a type of play which presented the philosophy of Albert Camus (articulated in his 1942 essay, The Myth of Sisyphus).

5. Albert Camus: wrote the essay “Myth of Sisyphus”

6.  Camus argued that humanity had to admit that a rational explanation of the universe was beyond its reach.  the world must ultimately be seen as absurd or ridiculous.  There is no fate, God, or reason behind anything.  Camus argued that humanity had to admit that a rational explanation of the universe was beyond its reach.  the world must ultimately be seen as absurd or ridiculous.  There is no fate, God, or reason behind anything.

7.  One reason Absurdism became popular was because Freud became popular.

8.  Id= Animal desires  Ego=How we are taught to behave  Superego= negotiates between them.  Freud thought we ignored our id too much and that made us insane.  Id= Animal desires  Ego=How we are taught to behave  Superego= negotiates between them.  Freud thought we ignored our id too much and that made us insane.

9. Absurdists loved Freud’s id. There is a lot in life that was insane that we ignore to our peril.

10. WWII: Nuclear Threat

11. WWII also popularized Absurdism.  the trauma of living under threat of nuclear annihilation showed everyone how ridiculous life is.  Suddenly, one did not need to be an abstract thinker in order to be able to reflect upon absurdity.  the trauma of living under threat of nuclear annihilation showed everyone how ridiculous life is.  Suddenly, one did not need to be an abstract thinker in order to be able to reflect upon absurdity.

12. Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot  Epitomized theatre of the absurd and was a huge, worldwide success.

13. Absurd vs. Traditional  traditional theatre attempts to create a photographic representation of life.  the Theatre of the Absurd relates to the entire world including the world of dreams and the id.  traditional theatre attempts to create a photographic representation of life.  the Theatre of the Absurd relates to the entire world including the world of dreams and the id.

14. Theatre vs. The Theatre of the Absurd

15. Language: “words, words, words.”  Language is meaningless.  Words fail to express the essence of human experience.  The Theatre of the Absurd shows language is a very unreliable and tool.  It uses conventional speech, cliches, slogans and technical jargon, to distort and parody.  Language is meaningless.  Words fail to express the essence of human experience.  The Theatre of the Absurd shows language is a very unreliable and tool.  It uses conventional speech, cliches, slogans and technical jargon, to distort and parody.

17. Logic  Rational thought only deals with the superficial aspects of things. Nonsense, on the other hand, opens up a glimpse of the infinite/ the truth.  Absurd drama subverts logic. It relishes the the logically impossible.  Logic is a prison that hides reality.  Rational thought only deals with the superficial aspects of things. Nonsense, on the other hand, opens up a glimpse of the infinite/ the truth.  Absurd drama subverts logic. It relishes the the logically impossible.  Logic is a prison that hides reality.