existing only to exist

ProfessorViral・2 minutes read

Characters in various anime narratives grapple with the absurdity of life, seeking meaning in a world devoid of inherent purpose through experiences ranging from love and loss to revenge and rebellion. The text explores the concept of the absurd hero, who rebels against a meaningless universe to create their own meaning and find victory in defying fate.

Insights

  • Characters in various narratives, such as Spike, Asuka, and Vincent, grapple with the absurdity of existence, seeking meaning in different ways but often failing to confront it directly, leading to a sense of despair and ruin.
  • The text introduces the concept of an absurd hero, exemplified by characters like Tor and Pino, who rebel against the idea of an unachievable goal imposed by a meaningless world, opting to create their own purpose and find victory in defiance against fate.

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Recent questions

  • What is the concept of the absurd?

    The concept of the absurd explores the contradiction between human reasoning and a world devoid of inherent meaning.

  • How do characters in narratives search for meaning?

    Characters in narratives often search for a reason to exist beyond mere existence itself, grappling with the idea of finding purpose in a seemingly meaningless world.

  • What is the significance of death in "Sunny Boy"?

    In "Sunny Boy," death is portrayed as giving life potential meaning, emphasizing the idea that mortality can bring significance to one's existence.

  • How does "Fooly Cooly" depict finding purpose?

    "Fooly Cooly" showcases Naoto's journey from a stagnant existence to a more positive drive to find purpose, illustrating the potential for individuals to create meaning through dedication.

  • How does Spike Spiegel confront the absurdity of existence?

    Spike Spiegel from "Cowboy Bebop" finds temporary meaning in his love for Julia, but ultimately faces the absurdity of existence when she is taken from him, leading to his existential crisis.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring Absurdity: Characters Seek Meaning Amidst Chaos

  • The text explores the concept of the absurd, as highlighted by Albert Camus, where individuals face the contradiction between their reasoning minds and a world devoid of inherent meaning.
  • Characters in various narratives are depicted as searching for a reason to exist beyond mere existence itself.
  • "Sunny Boy" presents a surreal anime where characters drift in an abstract world with superpowers, emphasizing that death gives life potential meaning.
  • "Fooly Cooly" follows Naoto's journey from a stagnant existence to a more positive drive to find purpose, showcasing the potential for individuals to create meaning through dedication.
  • "Black Lagoon" portrays Revy as existing within societal confines, driven by a desire for power and money, highlighting the bleakness of a life devoid of intrinsic meaning.
  • Spike Spiegel from "Cowboy Bebop" finds temporary meaning in his love for Julia, but ultimately faces the absurdity of existence when she is taken from him, leading to his existential crisis.
  • "Neon Genesis Evangelion" features Asuka, whose desire for recognition and validation drives her existence, but when this purpose is shattered, she falls into despair.
  • Other examples like I from "Wonder Egg Priority" and Vincent from "Ergo Proxy" showcase characters who find and lose meaning in their lives, grappling with the limitations imposed by society and circumstances.
  • Okabe from "Stein's Gate Zero" experiences the consequences of time travel, dedicating himself to saving his friends, illustrating the complexities of defining one's existence within the constraints of physics and societal norms.

15:05

Struggle for meaning in absurd existence

  • Kiyoma clings to those who matter, even though he knows it's false, to maintain them while succeeding.
  • Kiyoma gives up when he realizes he can't exist as he wants, leaving him a shell of himself.
  • Avilio seeks revenge on the Veneti family for killing his own, leading to their destruction.
  • Faye Valentine, a gambler, discovers her past after a space shuttle accident, finding a tape from her childhood.
  • Shinji seeks acceptance due to his father's neglect, leading to a rejection of a collective unconscious world.
  • Shinji rejects a world of connection, realizing acceptance means nothing if forced.
  • Characters like Spike, Asuka, Vincent, and Avilio seek to remove themselves from observing the absurd.
  • Kemu rejects physical and philosophical suicide, advocating for revolt as the reason to live.
  • Embracing the absurdity of life and rejecting meaning offers more freedom than living within meaning.
  • Characters like Nagara, Nalto, Revy, Asuka, Spike, Faye, and Vincent face the absurd but do not confront it, seeking comprehension elsewhere and often leading to ruin.

29:40

Embracing Absurdity: Defying Fate, Finding Meaning

  • The text discusses the concept of an absurd hero who rebels against the idea of an unachievable goal set by a god-like nature, choosing to create his own heaven on earth instead.
  • It introduces Tor, a character from the anime Vinland Saga, who was once a feared warrior but becomes disillusioned with the world's violence, seeking a peaceful life in Iceland and defining a true warrior as one who fights existence itself.
  • Pino from the anime Ergo Proxy is highlighted as an absurd hero who, despite being aware of the world's lack of meaning, chooses to live fully and embrace consciousness, learning to think and exist with purpose.
  • The original absurd hero, Sisyphus, is mentioned as a figure who rebels against his eternal punishment by rolling a boulder up a hill, symbolizing the struggle against fate and finding victory in the act of defiance.
  • The text concludes by encouraging readers to share their own experiences with the absurd, emphasizing the importance of embracing life's challenges and finding meaning in existence despite its inherent lack of purpose.
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