#existentialism

#existentialism

Every truth comes after the event, the philosopher Alain Badiou once said. It's tempting to view the widespread stress, anxiety, and sense of disconnection today as the culmination of such an event-one that reveals an uncomfortable truth: Few people dare to live authentically, as they are consumed by what others think of them.

Sigmund Freud mistakenly believed that human civilization would mature and outgrow childlike thinking in religion, but the Pew survey shows that spirituality remains deeply embedded in society.

The subject of saṃvega is a disquieting feeling that we all experience at some point, reinforcing our sense of unease about life's purpose.

Anguish arises from uncertainty, as we face choices between values like love and freedom, which can pull us in opposite directions.

In 'Paper Swans,' a parkkeeper encounters a mysterious woman in a ballet dress, engaging in a dreamlike repetition of making paper swans, rich in symbolic meaning.

Trying to seek meaning in such abstraction may seem as absurd as Camus believed it was to seek meaning in life. But meaning there is.

The White Lotus presents a captivating glimpse into the lives of affluent American tourists, exploring their existential dilemmas amidst the opulence of a luxurious Thai resort.

Solstad's prose combines existential despair, political themes, and humor, making him a unique voice in Norwegian literature, admired worldwide by literary giants.

John Cheever's 'The Swimmer' critiques the facade of American suburbia, revealing a deeper pain and self-destructive tendency hidden beneath its idyllic exterior.

Guadagnino's 'Call Me by Your Name' portrays queer desire in radiant sunlight, contrasting with his new film, where darkness dominates the quest for connection.

Goethe’s brief diary entry reflects on Friedrich’s 'Monk By the Sea' as a pivotal piece of Romantic art, embodying existential themes and abstraction before its time.