Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
Absurdism
What is absurdism?
The belief that human beings exist in a purpose-less, chaotic universe.
"Absurdity presents humanity "stripped of the accidental circumstances of social position or historical context, confronted with basic choices" [Martin Esslin]
The history of Absurd Theatre
Absurd Theatre emerged during a moment of crisis in the literary and artistic movement of Modernism -which itself began in the closing years of the last century, becoming most prominent in the early decades of this century, and going into decline in the 30's and 40's. Economic and political upheaval, lasting roughly from the rise of Hitler to the Death of Stalin forced the movement to almost disappear. However it was to re-emerge in the 50's through the 60's and even into the early 70's -at which time the prosperity that developed countries had enjoyed since the end of the Second World War was to be threatened by another protracted era of strife that was to have a profound impact on the arts. This was to become known as post-modernism and was probably responsible for the end of the second phase of Modernism. It was during the 50's and 60's, with its drugs, sexual revolution, anti-war protest, student up-risings, sit -ins, ban the bomb marches, Oz Magazine, Feminism, Performance Art, The Black Panther Movement, the Hippies, and existentialism, that the Theatre of the Absurd emerged.
Characteristics of Absurd Plays
Language:
·Language is often fragmented.
·Word play–new meaning or double meaning.
·Pauses
Audience relationship:
·Audience often alienated, teased, puzzled, and disturbed.
·Audience questions existence and absurdity of life.
Plot:
·Plot may be illogical.
·Often no resolution at the end.
·Relationships are nebulous and audience wonders about the characters’ relationships.
·Juxtaposition of contradictory elements, for example: friends who destroy each other.
·Plot is both comic and tragic – two aspects of the same situation.
Writers’
Absurdism
What is absurdism?
The belief that human beings exist in a purpose-less, chaotic universe.
"Absurdity presents humanity "stripped of the accidental circumstances of social position or historical context, confronted with basic choices" [Martin Esslin]
The history of Absurd Theatre
Absurd Theatre emerged during a moment of crisis in the literary and artistic movement of Modernism -which itself began in the closing years of the last century, becoming most prominent in the early decades of this century, and going into decline in the 30's and 40's. Economic and political upheaval, lasting roughly from the rise of Hitler to the Death of Stalin forced the movement to almost disappear. However it was to re-emerge in the 50's through the 60's and even into the early 70's -at which time the prosperity that developed countries had enjoyed since the end of the Second World War was to be threatened by another protracted era of strife that was to have a profound impact on the arts. This was to become known as post-modernism and was probably responsible for the end of the second phase of Modernism. It was during the 50's and 60's, with its drugs, sexual revolution, anti-war protest, student up-risings, sit -ins, ban the bomb marches, Oz Magazine, Feminism, Performance Art, The Black Panther Movement, the Hippies, and existentialism, that the Theatre of the Absurd emerged.
Characteristics of Absurd Plays
Language:
·Language is often fragmented.
·Word play–new meaning or double meaning.
·Pauses
Audience relationship:
·Audience often alienated, teased, puzzled, and disturbed.
·Audience questions existence and absurdity of life.
Plot:
·Plot may be illogical.
·Often no resolution at the end.
·Relationships are nebulous and audience wonders about the characters’ relationships.
·Juxtaposition of contradictory elements, for example: friends who destroy each other.
·Plot is both comic and tragic – two aspects of the same situation.
Writers’