Absurdism+A

=** Audience of the Absurd - Vanessa Hyde **=

When it comes to absurdism, the characteristics and experiences that emerge from the term are what define the audience. There is no specific audience for absurdism due to how closely related the ideal is to existentialism. The phenomena of absurdism was recognized after WWII and is simply described as, "in a world without God, human life and human suffering have no intrinsic meaning. This sense of a fundamental incongruity between human beings and the conditions of their existence is a recognition of the absurd and calls for a response that mixes humor and despair" ("Absurdism" 1995). Some might describe absurdism as cynical and misguided due to the notion that "human life and human suffering have no meaning". However, the individuals that are responsive to this idea and accept this theory as their own, understand that absurdism and extensialism define human beings as individuals with their own choices and fate, despite the universe they live in. Another indication of what absurdism is described when Shingler writes, "The term Absurdity describes humanity's futile attempt to find rational order where none exists" (Shingler). Absurdism again appears to be dark with the use of descriptions such as "futile" and "none exist" but through the eyes of a person that understands and experiences absurdity, absurdism is merely the idea that there is constant absurdity throughout life and through the use of absurdism, humor and acceptance of the absurdities can be found. The type of audience that absurdism pertains to is one that relates and may even have an, "attitude is therefore black humor, an ambiguous mixture of tragic pathos and preposterous comedy" ("Absurdism" 1995). A "black humor" and "tragic pathos" may not be an optimist's idea of enjoyment but it takes a decisive and clearly realistic type of individual to accept and utilize absurdism. Absurdism is defined by it's __origin__ and characteristics and so is the audience that follows it, as well as the authors that utilize it.

Works Cited: "Absurdism." Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literary & Cultural Criticism (1995): 3. EBSCO//host//. Web. 18 October 2012. Shingler, David. "Existentialism and The Absurd". AP American Language: Empire High School, 15 October 2012. Online Presentation.