#bsd absurdism

[soupthatistohot]

Hi, sorry to bother you, I was wondering why you read bad as more of an absurdist story than an existentialist one?

(Sorry if you already answered it somewhere, but since I didn't find anything, I thought that I might as well ask.)

Maybe I missed something, but BSD's characters always seemed to me like people making up their own meanings to make life make sense, rather than the rebellion for the need of meaning itself, which I think fits more the existentialist thought process?

Even Dazai, especially, looking to understand the worth in humanity to justify his own existence, trying to find something to live for, to make his life make sense. He doesn't seem to have the kind of acceptance that I think comes with an absurdist mindset, that one of not needing any meaning to live your life anyway.

My grasp on the subject is still pretty shaky, as despite having read absurdist authors and even having some of them as my all time favorites for a long while, I was only properly introduced to that school of thought by you, which is why I figured you'd probably be the best one to explain why I'm wrong.

From where I'm standing, it feels like BSD is a story of existentialists navigating their life in an absurdist setting, if that makes sense? I know that they're not polar opposites, and can even be complementary but yeah. Just food for thought. I'm always looking for new ways to understand things better.

Hi there, not a bother at all!! I have my asks open for a reason and I’m always happy to chat abt this type of stuff :)

There’s kind of two answers to this question. The first is that until pretty recently (like legit a couple weeks ago thanks to a tiktok) I realize that my understanding of absurdism was closer to the definition of existentialism (though they’re definitely close cousins). You’re correct in saying that the absurdist does not seek to create meaning, but rather recognizes that life is meaningless and lives anyway. My analyses up to this point have actually been working with a flawed definition because of my misunderstanding and the internet’s general misunderstanding.

That being said, I really do think that BSD can still absolutely be read as an absurdist text. The other answer to this question is that this is so because I believe Asagiri wrote the story this way. He seems to have been influenced by multiple prolific absurdist authors (Franz Kafka, from whom he took his pen name; and Albert Camus, who is considered to be the father of absurdism and whose character Asagiri used the name of for the prison Meursault). Put simply, I am convinced that Asagiri intends to write a narrative with absurdist themes.

While most (if not all) of the characters are in a quest to find meaning, that does not necessarily negate the absurdist reading of BSD. Humans are naturally wired to seek out purpose in our lives, but it does seem like the characters are on a path towards living for the sake of living rather than living for a certain purpose.

Take someone like Dazai, who is suicidal because of his search for meaning. Absurdism is very much against suicide and I think the fact that it seems that Dazai’s reasoning for his suicidal tendencies revolves around his failure to find hope (in the world and for himself) is indicative of Asagiri’s absurdist influence. That being said, the less Dazai tries to search for meaning and the more he just simply lives his life, the more content and fulfilled he seems to become. He’s not all the way there, and perhaps he never will be, but what matters is that him letting go of his search for purpose is part of his character development.

Atsushi is another good example. His main flaw is that he puts his worth in his ability to help others, and while that initially saves his life when he joins the ADA and finds a reason to live, it’s also obvious that this is not conducive long-term as it takes a massive toll on his self-esteem if/when he fails. A large part of his character arc has been deconstructing the connection between his self worth and ability to help others, and similar to Dazai, the more he just lives for himself and helps people because he wants to (not because he needs to for his self-esteem), the more content and fulfilled he seems to be.

In terms of absurdism vs existentialism, I think it can fit both, depending on how you’re looking to interpret the story. I think the two philosophies of thought go hand-in-hand and it’s just about how you frame your analysis. BSD has its moments that are more absurdist and its moments that are more existentialist. As with life, it’s not entirely black and white, I think it can be nuanced and involve both interpretations.

I hope this answers your questions!! If you have anything more to say, please feel free to share your thoughts, I love talking about this stuff :)

[pleucas]

most feared duo in yokohama

[kyouka-supremacy]

Wait how do you think Atsushi and Akutagawa have each other's numbers saved on their respective phone contacts

[wheresjouno]

‘What Do You Look Like?’ Pt. 1

(Probably Pt. 1/1 if my life continues on this track tbh)

Anyway I’m not at all experienced at drawing comics so excuse the whack ass panelling 🎃

[sableeira]

hiii long time no art and I’m late but I’m not immune to skk 109 angst

[lady-tortilla-chip]

I think it’s crazy actually that people think it’s impossible for Chuuya to trick Fyodor without Fyodor having to be dumber for it. Especially when a popular theory was that after the drowning Chuuya had begun faking it, why is it so hard to believe he’d just been faking it the entire time?

This doesn’t even touch on how it’s been SUCH a LOUD point throughout mersault that Fyodor has hugely underestimated Soukoku. So, by obvious extension that would include Chuuya too if not more so than Dazai seeing as he insinuated multiple times that Chuuya was Dazai’s tool rather than equal partner.

[originalaccountname]

I may be making stuff up. But. I'm just saying.

[etrevil]

The look of a happy man with an arm around another man until an earthquake alerts him that his ex just dropped by.

[kaurwreck]

I need people to remember friendship exist <- a victim to another "Oda is Dazai father figure" takes.

Guys... listen to me... i know this is crazy but. have you ever heard of friendship?

Literally, friendship exists, and friends are tender and care for each other. There is a Wan episode where Dazai points at Ango and says something like "Get him, boy!" to sic Oda on him, who then holds Ango down for Dazai and barks. They are friends. They are ridiculous, silly, profoundly beloved friends.

As someone who has always had mentors, senpais, and friends several years my senior (with much larger age gaps than that between Dazai and Oda): not everyone older than you is your mom and dad and that's a really self infantilizing and surely self isolating approach to the world.

[ssaraexposs]

Yeah, I've always wanted them to meet, BUT NOT LIKE THIS

[soupthatistohot]

Anyone who likes my BSD absurdism threads should check out Asphodels on twt bc they've made a couple very well-done BSD absurdism threads recently, one about ASPD, Dazai and absurdism, and Chuuya and absurdism!!

[pleucas]

whose heartbeat is it, then? mine?

[kyouka-supremacy]

Do you think Akutagawa addresses Atsushi by his name in his own mind

[ratwars]

I wish they had grippy socks in Meursault. Something about the squish squish of their soaked grippy sock feet post near drowning across the halls would have brought some comedic relief I think.

Maybe everyone would have chilled out a little bit.

[icedtoastt]

Ok hear me out im the biggest “dazai is alive” truther. But I will never be a “Dazai has a plan” truther do you understand

[chwoyaz]

how i perceive skk and their philosophical beliefs, particularly existentialism and absurdism

in my opinion, dazai's an existentialist. his character explores around the concept of finding meaning in life bcs he has no idea what's the point of it all. is there even value in the act of living? or is it just a foolish desire human beings have?

we all know dazai struggles with human emotions and has a constant conflict with his own identity

and yet, dazai constantly makes his choices in order to seek meaning (ex. staying in the mafia for a period of time, joining the ada, saving people, etc.)

the thing is, he WANTS to learn what it means to be human; wants to understand and find the value of life

as for chuuya, i believe he's an absurdist.

chuuya's journey is simply—for lack of a better word—ridiculous.

he has faced many absurd challenges in his life, yet managed to turn his life around through sheer force of will (mind you), and continues to live through it all with a devoted passion towards maintaining his relationship with humanity

like dazai, chuuya also struggles feeling human. at his worse moments, he feels like a weapon only wielded for war

despite that, chuuya continues living and commits himself to the people around him as an act of defiance in my opinion

yes, the conditions of his life is inane. laughable. maybe even pointless. but does it matter?

he doesn't particularly care abt the greater value of life or actively search for the meaning behind it, since he has already lived his entire life accepting its madness

he does and will constantly choose to live in spite of his conditions bcs he refuses to give in to the notion that he's not human and therefore shouldn't even cease to exist

in the end, chuuya rejects the promise of death and the power of destruction he's clearly capable of in order to stay in touch with his humanity—no matter how absurd his life is