Theatre of the Absurd

"The Theatre of the Absurd" or "Le Théâtre de l'Absurde" is a phrase used in reference to particular plays written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, as well as to the style of theatre which has evolved from their work. The term was coined by the critic Martin Esslin, who made it the title of a 1962 book on the subject. Esslin saw the work of these playwrights as giving artistic articulation to Albert Camus' philosophy that life is inherently without meaning, as illustrated in his work The Myth of Sisyphus.

Related Topics:
Play - Playwright - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - Martin Esslin - Albert Camus - Philosophy - The Myth of Sisyphus

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The 'Theatre of the Absurd' is thought to have it's origins in Nanoism, nonsense poetry and avant-garde art of the 1920's - 1930's. However, this genre of theatre accomplished it's eventual popularity when World War II highlighted the ultimate precariousness of human life.

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The expression "Theater of the Absurd" has been criticized by some writers, and one also finds the expressions "Anti-Theater" and "New Theater". According to Martin Esslin, the four defining playwrights of the movement are Eugene Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Jean Genet, and Arthur Adamov, although each of these writers has entirely unique preoccupations and techniques that go beyond the term "absurd". Other writers often associated with this group include Tom Stoppard, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Fernando Arrabal, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and Jean Tardieu. Playwrights who served as an inspiration to the movement include Alfred Jarry, Luigi Pirandello, Stanislaw Witkiewicz, Guillaume Apollinaire, the surrealists and many more.

Related Topics:
Martin Esslin - Eugene Ionesco - Samuel Beckett - Jean Genet - Arthur Adamov - Tom Stoppard - Friedrich Dürrenmatt - Fernando Arrabal - Harold Pinter - Edward Albee - Jean Tardieu - Alfred Jarry - Luigi Pirandello - Stanislaw Witkiewicz - Guillaume Apollinaire

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The "Absurd" or "New Theater" movement was, in its origin, a distinctly Paris-based (and left bank) avant-garde phenomenon tied to extremely small theaters in the Latin Quarter; the movement only gained international prominence over time.

Related Topics:
Left bank - Latin Quarter

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In practice, The Theatre of the Absurd departs from realistic characters, situations and all of the associated theatrical conventions. Time, place and identity are ambiguous and fluid, and even basic causality frequently breaks down. Meaningless plots, repetitive or nonsensical dialogue and dramatic non-sequiturs are often used to create dream-like, or even nightmare-like moods.

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