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Post by mjunious on Jun 2, 2024 9:04:05 GMT
American Existentialism, I think, will be a very unique approach to the broader Existentialism idea. There seems to be a wrestling with meaning in one's life at the core of the philosophy, but the unique American views on life have to greatly influence the interpretation of the philosophy. Americans have very specific relationships with nature, economics, and other people, so as the course progresses, I think it will be most interesting to see how the writers weave their uniquely American backgrounds into the overall fabric of the European philosophy. As the BBC Ideas video states "material prosperity...[increases] the struggle to find genuine meaning for our existence". This seems foreshadowing to the types of angst that these writers address.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jun 2, 2024 17:55:20 GMT
Good points, Mitchell! And yes, you're alluding to one of the foremost ideological collisions here-- between the essential optimism and prosperity of the United States (especially after World War II, when the rest of the world was wrecked) and essentially pessimistic and broken/ disillusioned post-war Europe.
To me, this is why "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" hits so hard in an American context. Though it's set in Spain, the attitude of the younger waiter seems to be very American. Basically, he discounts the notion that anyone could have despair if they have plenty of money..... that seems very American! On the other hand, as you mention, "material prosperity...[increases] the struggle to find genuine meaning for our existence." The key word here is "genuine"... I do think many Americans began to wonder whether the meanings handed down to them were genuine or not.
So in one sense, this is part of what we'll be exploring this semester-- how did European existentialism translate to the American sphere.
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Post by gnicholson3 on Jun 3, 2024 16:22:39 GMT
Your reply makes me really wonder how American Existential writers have changed over time. I feel that The Hunger Games by S. Collins is very dystopian and existential, but the writing is more modern in comparison to other texts we will have read later in the semester. Like S. Collin's districts in her Hunger Games trilogy, Americans (specifically generation Z) seem to be more attuned to existential issues in society such as materialistic $75,000 Meta Gala tickets while a war is happening before our eyes and on social media in comparison to the materialistic Capitol citizens celebrating the tributes being sent to their death. The lack of awareness of the human condition is certainly something to think about.
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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jun 4, 2024 4:14:37 GMT
To your point, Grace, you might certainly look for a mash-up of existentialist and dystopian (which I know you're interested in).
Kafka, for instance, and The Trial.
David Foster Wallace and The Pale King.
Jose Saramago, I think it's called All of the Names.
These aren't YA titles, but all of them are set against a sort of arbitrary and all-powerful bureaucracy within which and against which the individual is lost and powerless. Sounds a bit like Katniss's situation, I agree!
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Post by mjunious on Jun 4, 2024 8:08:16 GMT
I do not think he is classified as an existentialist writer, but can I also suggest Philip Roth. Specifically, he wrote a book called Nemesis that might be fitting with your exploration of existentialist ideas amidst modern crises. I imagine this book would take on new relevance in a post-covid world.
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