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What should I watch/read/listen to in the world of absurdism/existentialism literature or the two theories themselves?

After reading Camus' The Stranger and learning a little about Kafka, I've become fascinated with the ideas of absurdism and existentialism. If anyone can recommended me any YouTube videos, similar novels to Stranger, or any podcasts or audiobooks on said topics, I'd really appreciate it. I'm studying to become an English teacher, or film history professor on said topics.

english literature philosophy english-literature theory existentialism
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Michelle’s Answer

Hello again, Jayden !

I found "Rhinoceros" online and left a link for it below in case you wanted to watch it.

Well, my biggest advice for you about reading up on Absurdism and Existentialism, the theories and film techniques, would be to go to your local college bookstore. They just very well may have some textbooks on the subjects that you can buy.

To save some money and have access to a wealth of material, see if your local public Library has a website that offers you to check out materials online and use them online. My local Library does this in partnership with a website called Hoopla. Find out what your local Library uses for this. I have read some books by doing this and they have materials for me as an actress, too, so try this route. My online Library offers books to read online, Audio Books, Movies, TV Shows, Music and eBooks. This would be a great free way to get materials if you have a Library card.

The websites that focus on the subject you're interested in are: Hothouse Lit Journal, Quora (for discussions), Reddit (r/Existentialism), Wikipedia - Absurdist Fiction article, IMDb - EXISTENTIAL FILMS, Reddit (r/movies).

Harvard, Yale and the University of London offer online courses in this subject so you can explore those. The courses are named Existentialism and Absurdism in Film and Philosophy of Film and deal with the history, theory, and analysis of existential and absurdist films.

Some online books and resources can be found at these websites Contemporary Absurdities, Existential Crises, and Visual Art, Goodreads for Existentialism Absurdism Books, a blog that has 5 Existentialist Books Everyone Should Read, Albert Camus Reading List, and r/suggestmeabook on Reddit: Existential, Nihilistic, and Absurdist Books. Just do a search online for these.

So I hope this helps and I wish you well !

Michelle recommends the following next steps:

"Rhinoceros" Full Film https://youtu.be/G5jzuvmnglk?si=gFuNAXOcgFyrLNUB
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it. Jayden
Thank you comment icon You are vey welcome, Jayden ! Michelle M.
Thank you comment icon Can you send the links to the online classes please? Jayden
Thank you comment icon So sorry, I received old information. Yale has no online course and I think Harvard offers it to enrolled students. I retract that portion of my advice, sorry, but you can always search for what you want. Semesters at colleges are almost over so try one of the websites like Coursera or Udemy or Alison. Sorry ! Glad you asked me to double check this ! Michelle M.
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Michael’s Answer

In terms of YouTube videos, I would search channels like Wisecrack and Then & Now. They do well-researched video essays on philosophical topics for a general audience. In terms of films, check out The Big Lebowski, I Heart Huckabees, or Synecdoche New York.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Michael. Jayden
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Karin’s Answer

Hi Jayden,

I love "The Third Policeman" by Flann O'Brian. And Eugene Ionesco of course.

KP
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