Absurdism is a philosophical perspective that was manifested from the similar ideologies of nihilism and existentialism. Followers of absurdism believe that it is futile for humans to try to seek for meaning and rational explanations in the universe (newworldencyclopedia.com). Contrary to nihilists though, followers of absurdism believe that there are underlying meanings in the world, but they are beyond human capability to grasp. According to NewWorldEncyclopedia.com, “Absurdism implies a tragic tone and feelings of frustration that arise out of the contradiction between the human quest for the meaning of life and its inaccessibility.” Furthermore, absurdist views state that humanity must live in a world that is constantly hostile or indifferent towards them (philosophy-index.com). This tone has become apparent in many works of literature, as well as impacted multiple artists’ work.
Using the ideology of absurdism, an author is able to convey the fruitless efforts of their characters trying to discover “absolute truths” when in reality, there is not always only one explanation. Authors can successfully employ this perspective by choices in their plot. For example, if the protagonist never comes to a solid conclusion to explain “why” or “for what purpose”, the author is implying that it may not be possible for the characters to ever know.
This style allows for scholars to interpret and debate literature and art, rather than come to one unified (and thus boring) conclusion. Through an absurdist lens, the audience can question the purpose of a piece of art, whether it is a sculpture or a novel. Overall, an absurdist lens allows creativity and involves a more in depth analyzation of art and literature.
Works Cited
"Absurdism." New World Encyclopedia 28 May 2008 Web.28 May 2009.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Absurdism
"Absurdism." Philosophy Index (2009) Web.28 May 2009. http://www.philosophy-
index.com/existentialism/absurd.php
"Absurdism Summary/Study Guide." eNotes (2009) Web.28 May 2009.
http://www.enotes.com/absurdism
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Much of the Beatles music is considered absurd
Author of "The Stranger" which is recognized as one of the most significant steps in the formation of the philosophy of absurdism
"The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived."
Some additional webpages and blogs about absurdism:
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/lifes-absurdities.html
http://blogs.oneindia.in/absurdism/1/showtags.html
http://technorati.com/videos/tag/absurdism
http://apapapa52.wordpress.com/2008/12/27/the-stranger/
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kierkegaard/
The Beatles
Much of the Beatles music is considered absurd
Albert Camus
Author of "The Stranger" which is recognized as one of the most significant steps in the formation of the philosophy of absurdism
Søren Kierkegaard
"The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived."
Kip Addotta's "Wet Dream"
It was April the 41st, being a quadruple leap year
I was driving in downtown Atlantis
My Barracuda was in the shop, so I was in a rented Stingray, and it was
overheating
So I pulled into a Shell station
They said I'd blown a seal
I said, "Fix the damn thing and leave my private life out of it, okay
pal?"
While they were doing that I walked over to a place called the oyster
bar -- a real dive
But I knew the owner, he used to play for the Dolphins
I said, "Hi, Gil!!!"
You hafta yell, he's hard of herring
CHORUS:
Think I had a wet dream
Cruisin' through the Gulf Stream
Oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Wet dream...
Gil was also down on his luck
Fact is, he was barely keeping his head below water
I gullied up to the sandbar
He poured the usual
Rusty snail, hold the grunion, shaken, not stirred
With a peanut butter and jellyfish sandwich on the side -- heavy on the
mako
I slipped him a fin -- on porpoise
I was feeling good
I even dropped a sand dollar in the box for Jerry's Squids -- for the
halibut
Well, the place was crowded
We were packed in like sardines
They were all there to listen to the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsal --
what sole
Tommy was rockin' the place with a very popular tuna -- "Salmon Chanted
Evening"
And the stage was surrounded by screaming groupers
Probably there to see the bass player
One of them was this cute little yellowtail
And she's giving ME the eye
So I figure, this is my chance for a little fun
You know -- a piece of Pisces
But she said things I just couldn't fathom
She was too deep, and seemed to be under a lot of pressure
Boy, could she drink
She drank like a... she drank A LOT...
I said, "What's your sign?"
She said, "Aquarium"
I said, "GREAT!!! Let's get tanked!"
CHORUS
I invited her up to my place for a little midnight bait
I said, "C'mon baby, it'll only take a few minnows"
She threw me that same old line
"Not tonight -- I got a haddock"
And she wasn't kiddin' either, 'cuz in came the biggest, meanest looking
haddock I'd ever seen come down the pike
He was covered with mussels
He came over to me, he said, "Listen shrimp -- don't you come trolling
around here"
What a crab
This guy was steamed -- I could see the anchor in his eyes
I turned to him, I said, "Abalone -- You're just being shellfish"
Well, I knew it was going to be trouble, and so did Gil, 'cuz he was
already on the phone to the cods
The haddock hits me with a sucker punch
I catch him with a left hook
He eels over
It was a fluke, but there he was, lying on the deck, flat as a mackerel
Kelpless
I said, "Forget the cods, Gil, this guy's gonna need a sturgeon"
Well, the yellowtail was impressed with the way I landed her boyfriend
She came over to me, she said, "Hey big boy, you're really a game fish"
"What's your name?"
I said, "Marlin"
CHORUS
Well from then on, we had a whale of a time
I took her to dinner
I took her to dance
I bought her a bouquet of flounders
And then I went home with her
And what did I get for my trouble?
A case of the clams
CHORUS
CHORUS/FADE
Kip Addotta’s song, “Wet Dream” can most accurately be described as absurd. The lyrics consist of consecutive playful puns, all of which are nautical-themed. For example, Addotta writes, “But she said things I just couldn't fathom/ She was too deep, and seemed to be under a lot of pressure.” Not only is he stating that his lady companion is stressed out, but Addotta is also alluding to being fathoms deep under the water, and the deeper one goes, the amount of pressure increases. This reference is utter nonsense when looking at the song as a whole.
“Wet Dream” appears to have been written for sheer enjoyment, since it does not seem to have any sense or purpose. The tone is whimsical which further characterizes it as absurd.
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