AP+TS+2013+Albert+Camus




 * HISTORICAL ** (Jenna):



Albert Camus was a prominent French-Algerian author, journalist and playwright during the 1940’s and ‘50s. Camus was born on November 7, 1913 in Mondavi, Algeria and died January 4, 1960 in Burgundy, France. He was most well-known for his absurdist works //The Stranger// in 1942 and //The Plague// in 1947; earning him the Nobel Prize in 1957 in Literature. However, The Myth of Sisyphus, written in 1942, depicted Camus’s absurdist ideas the most clearly. Raised by his uninterested mother after his father’s death during World War I, he delved into education, sports and part-time employment. An attack of tuberculosis in 1930 prevented him from returning to school, but he was able to earn graduate and undergraduate philosophy degrees. Albert became increasingly involved in politics; first in the Communist party, then in the Algerian People’s Party and part of the French anarchist movement. During World War II, Camus, an outspoken critic, frequently published political commentary regarding the conflict. His novel, The First Man, was published years after his death in a car accident from papers found in his briefcase at the site of the crash.

Works Cited

"Albert Camus Biography." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.

"The Stranger." Cliffs Notes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.

"Albert Camus - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 15 Nov 2013.


 * AIM** (Michael):



Unlike many writers of his time Albert Camus encouraged the deep analysis on the mind and how one interacts with society around them. His bold actions in French society captured the attention of individuals all over the world. He is quoted saying, “This heart within me I can feel, and I judge that it exists. This world I can touch, and I likewise judge that it exists. There ends all my knowledge, and the rest is construction” (Albert Camus). Camus was often particularly focused on the human condition and how individuals relate to it as evidence for his absurdist beliefs. He supported the fact that the concept of the universe is pointless and that humanity should do their best to figure their one complexity in order to have purpose in the chaotic universe. (Albert Camus) Camus often interested in informing individuals on their moral obligation to others and how to live in a purposeless life. He was a devoted socialist that believed in the rights of all individuals and believed that since the world was truly chaotic everyone should have rights to all information. He stated, “The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding” (Albert Camus). With this devote desire to encourage thought in others Camus gained great prestige in France and was able to widely distribute his books like // The Stranger // and // The Plague // to many individuals.

Works Cited

"Albert Camus - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 15 Nov 2013.

"Albert Camus - Biography." // Albert Camus. // The European Graduate School, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.


 * CULTURAL** (Abbie):

As an author, Albert Camus depicted his cultural ideas through fictional characters and circumstances rather than public discourse. In his writing, he focused on many different issues in moral philosophy. When he won a prize for literature in 1957, the Nobel committee acknowledged his determination to “...illuminate the problem of the human conscience in our time” (Albert Camus [1913-1960]). After World War II ended, Camus devoted much of his time to studying the cruelty suffered by many at the hands of Nazi soldiers. By doing this, he reasoned that individuals have the capacity to refrain from inhuman acts and instead use their power to pursue truth and knowledge. (Zeledon) Author Maximo Zeledon states that Camus was known as, “...a moral voice advocating political action and strict adherence to moral principles in an era of nihilism and social upheaval” (Zeledon). Before the war ended, Camus worked as a journalist for different news sources. His work included “...analyzing the deplorable conditions among the Muslims of the Kabylie region” and expressing his left-wing views” (Camus). He was in the process of searching for a resolution to the political upheaval in Algeria when he died in 1960. (Albert Camus [1913-1960])

Works Cited:

“Albert Camus (1913-1960)”. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 21 March 2005.

 Web. 17 November 2013.

“Camus”. Novaonline. Nova. 27 December 2011. Web. 17 November 2013.

Zeledon, Maximo. “The Strangers: Albert Camus and American Pop Culture”. Rawstory. Web. 17 November 2013.


 * AUDIENCE** (Aidan):

Though primarily considered a philosopher of his time, Albert Camus took on many jobs in his life, all of which had some effect on people. On Camus’s life, “[Camus] was a journalist, editor and editorialist, playwright and director, novelist and author of short stories, political essayist and activist” (Aronson). As an author for public publishings, Camus writings were centered around how his readers would take the work. When writing as a “journalist”, he would be writing about news or events, so his audience was those wanting to stay informed. However, his success was most frequently determined by his audience’s approval. He wrote to them rather than about them, “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” (Camus). His audience was those searching for a better way of living. He wrote to those in a way where they would get something out of it. Although, he was a “political essayist”, and wrote to a portion of audience about political opinions as well. Having many different jobs, Albert Camus had a variety of audiences, and he wrote to those who wanted to know what was happening, or what he was saying.

Works Cited

Aronson, Ronald, "Albert Camus", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

"Albert Camus - Biography." Albert Camus. The European Graduate School, 1997-2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.