Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559

INTERPRETING THE ABSURD THEATRE THROUGH EXISTENTIALISM APPROACH

Rita Sutjiati1 Tri Wahyu Retno Ningsih2 Suci Budiwaty3

1,2,3Faculty of Letters, Gunadarma University [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Absurdity which is a form of human existence is the dominant theme to express human viewof life. Albert Camus, a French writer, was well known for his philosophycalled absurdism which has some similarities with existentialism. Introducing the concept of absurd theater in a foreign language to a group of literature students is not an easy task. Therefore, it is necessary to find an ideal approach to enhance students in this theater course and facilitate them for literature understanding through several literature theories. This study proposed sociological literature approach with two elements involved, the sociology of the author and the sociology of literature, in order to help students understand the absurdity of literary works. Existentialism approach was also used to solve the complexity of concepts in each drama scripts. Through the two elements of the sociology of literature, we acquired that the essence of existentialism is the term ”exist‘, as Camus‘s work on rebellion theme, ”I rebel; therefore I exist‘. The root of absurdity is absurdity itself. Therefore, talking about the absurdity of literary works is talking about the notion of absurdity itself and the notion of its feeling, and then about attitudes determine our actions. Absurdity also need to be explored through emotions and intertextuality.

Keywords: absurd, existentialism, Camus, intertextuality

INTRODUCTION drama of the absurd is a type of drama Proposing drama as a teaching allied to comedy, radically nonrealistic in model requires a thorough consideration both content and presentation that and elaboration. As we all know, there are emphasizes the absurdity, emptiness, or various kinds of drama, starting from meaninglessness of life. According to classical drama to the modern one. JakobSumardjo (1986), absurd means Teaching drama may be seensimilar to irrational, absurd, deviate from general teaching other subjects. However, in this logic. Rationale absurd is the notion that case, drama can be positioned as either the world is entirely neutral. Mohammad teaching materials or as a teaching model (2010) argued that the sensation of the at the faculty of letters. This study aimed absurd is a sense or feeling that comes to understand the basic concepts of the from mind and deed. All are metaphysics absurd theater and then how to convey or mental attitude that seems vague but these concepts to the students of English clearly, far but near. The onset of this Department. sensation is not visible. A person can be This study was conducted based on invaded by a feeling of absurdity in the a problem rose in the field: students‘ corner of the street, and so on. The difficulties in understanding the absurd absurdity may invade if someone concept of the absurd theater personally see and feel life as a routine performances. Perrine (1987) said that and mechanical, boredom, and finally felt

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Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559 exhaustion. There are aspects of unhuman concepts in teaching, (2) affect (affective in man, as the absurdity appeared with meaning)is a dimension related to the anxiety. Absurdity is also interpreted and reactions or feelings of listeners or readers connected with nature. Human-nature on a literary work or drama, (3) the relationship shows that nature is strange structure, which is associated with the and that oddity is absurd. Based on choices and decisions, how to make a historical studies conducted by Esslin, it is meaningful form of teaching in the field known that the absurd theater, in fact of drama or literary work. returns to the traditions of the past. Novelty lies in a new combination of the RESEARCH METHODS tradition that preceded it. There are The method used in this research is positive and negative reactions to the descriptive qualitative method with absurdity. A positive reaction is to sociology of literature approach. maintain awareness, retaining the world Sociology as an approach to literature on consciousness, and the product of the considers literature and social terms overlapping between consciousness and (Wellek and Warren, 1990). Wellek and the world is absurdity. While the negative Warren divided the sociology of literature reaction is unawareness of the as follows: surrounding world. 1. Sociology authors, including In the process of teaching drama, professional writers and literary Duffy (1988) stated thatimagination and institutions, namely the information creativity are firmly rooted in play about the family background of the (Moyles, 1989) and playfulness remains author that have a role in the part of the creativity process throughout disclosure issue of sociology author life. Play promotes the flexibility and (Wellek and Warren, 1990). problem-solving skills that are needed to 2. Sociology of literary work which be creativity. Further Duffy (1985) said deals with the literary work in order that teaching requires imagination and to explore what is implied and what creativity. Duffy‘s concept (1985) was its purpose is. developed by Sherratt and Peter (2002) 3. The social context of the author and illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1 which deals with the author positions describes three important aspects of a in society and in literature meaningfulteaching. Those three aspects community, it also concerns with are (1) interest developmentally, social factors that can affect the consisting of components as appropriate literary works; author professionalism content, ideas, concepts, themes, values, and the target readers intended by the and challenge. At this stage, the main aim author. of the course is to create interesting

Figure 1. Model of Meaningful Teaching Context (Sherrattdan Peter, 2002).

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Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559 RESULT AND DISCUSSION Absurd theater was created by there is no consistency. Existentialism Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett et.al; does not only influential in the Western they presented a script with foreign world, but throughout the world, including concept to their students. Foreign concept Indonesia. Several of Indonesian ways of emerged in researcher‘s mind because of thinking are affected by existentialism. the complexity of language use in the They consider themselves as subjects or absurd script. Good English proficiency is objects of the world (James, 2012). required to comprehend the text. A Existentialism is derived from the holistic understanding is also required to word 'existence' with the root word 'exist'. understand the sequence of events in the The word 'exist' is Latin means'ex' out and story and the relationships that build the 'sistare' means stand. So existence is to story elements. Therefore, it is quite stand out of yourself. There are various interesting to assign literature students arguments on how to define todiscuss a problem depicted in a literary existentialism. However, there are some work, in this case reviewing the absurd that can be agreed upon: human beings as literature as teaching materials as well as the central theme. teaching media to understand the foreign At the beginning of the 9th century, language and culture. Kierkegaard who was known as the father As language learning media, of existentialism have witnessed the students need to be encouraged to tendency of rationalism puts humans comprehend quotations from foreign intelligence as the sole measure of the language texts that support the argument reality of anything in this world. of the story. The citation presented were Intelligence is considered as the only valid the original version and sometimes the source of all human knowledge and students were given its translation when beyond that there is no valid source of necessary. The script was translated knowledge. For example, in a daily reality literary in order to capture the soulof the ofurban communities as a representation story. Of course there are ways that much of modern humans occurs spiritual wave better than literal translation. This phenomenon. The characteristic of technique was considered as an modern human is the rational and appropriate option by the researcher. The empirical thinking or in other words the 'soul' of stories have three basic paradigm of modern human is possibilities: (1)foreign language skills existentialistic. and Indonesian language skills, (2) We present two absurd texts, The understanding of the context, and (3) Myth of Sisyphus (Albert Camus) and knowledge of the story setting. Therefore, Waiting for Godot (Samuel Beckett), as through this study, the sociology of well as existential reviewon one of texts. literature approach and the theory of Students can review the literary work existentialism were used in learning the (drama scripts, theater scripts) using the absurd theater both as teaching materials approach of sociology of literature, such and teaching models. as the following analysis:

Existentialism Sociology of Literature One concept of existentialism stated 1. Sociology of Author that the universe has no purpose and is Albert Camus (1913-1960) is a absurd. According to the philosophy of figure that connects the chain of existentialism, absurd refers to the lack of absurdism and existentialism. Camus meaning in life, the lack of structure and wrote an absurd literary works, for

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Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559 example, the novel entitledThe Pestilence quotations from the story Waiting for and the Foreigner. the concept of Godot in Quenell and Zetterholm (1986): absurdity itself was discussed in his essay entitledThe Myth of Sisyphus (1913-1960), Estragon: Why don‘t we hang ourselves? first published in 1942. In that essay, Vladimir: With what? Camus (1955) depicts a figure of Sisyphus Estragon: You haven‘t a bit of rope? who perform odd activity. He pushed a Vladimir: No. boulder to the top of the hill that he never Estragon : Then we can‘t. reached. Every time the peak was almost Silence reached, the stone rolled down, and he had Vladimir: Let‘s go to push it all over again. Thus he continue Estragon : Wait, There‘s my belt. to do so. The strange act of Sysiphus in Vladimir: It‘s too short Western worldis a portrait of a human Estragon : You could hang to my legs. who lost hislife purposes. But what is the Vladimir: And who‘d hang on to mine? essence of Camus‘ essay (1955)? Bakdi Estragon : True. (2001) on his criticism said that based Vladimir: Show all the same. (Estragon onintertextual approach, people can loosens the cord that holds up his trousers connect it with Camus‘s other works, Le which, much too big for him, fall about his malentendú(misunderstanding),a drama ankles. They look at the cord). It might do script and also his novel (1954) entitled at a pinch. L'entrager (Line Outsiders). Camus But is it strong enough? (1955) discussed the basic questions of Estragon: We‘ll soon see. Here human existence; how life can be They each take an end of the meaningful. However, this does not imply cord and pull. It breaks. suicide? As the following text excerpts: They almost fall. ... .O My soul, do not aspire to Vladimir: Not worth a curse. immortal life, but exhaust the limits of the Silence possible. Estragon : You say we have to come -Pindar, Phytian (iii) tomorrow? ... O my soul, do not aspire to Vladimir: Yes eternal life, but finish after possible Silence boundaries. Estragon : Didi. -Pindar, Phytian (iii) Vladimir: Yes. Estragon : I can‘t go on like this. Paradoxically, Camus saw that a Vladimir: That‘s what you thing. reason to live is also the reason to die. For Estragon : If we parted ? That might be Camus such person is a sinner. Suicide in better for us. Camus‘s viewis a meaningful suicide Vladimir: We‘ll hang ourselves tomorrow. (Bakdi, 2001), which described by Justin (pause). Unless Godot comes. O'Brien as 'suicide is solving the absurd Estragon : And it he comes? situation‘ (Camus, 1955: 5). In this Vladimir: We‘ll be saved. context, it seems absurd is a serious problem. En attendant Godot (1952) or According to Bouty (1988), the Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is a drama has a cutting-edge themes of story about two traveler who spends their human absurdity associated with the art of days in waiting but without certainty who making avant grade who had left the or what they are waiting for, because no classical forms as drama. Beckett broke one ever came. Below are some the traditional concept of humanism which also want to leave its rhetoric.

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Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559 Harsono (1997) stated that the Bekett‘s spiritual climate and themes which are view contributed significantly to the discussed, say for example, the absurd existential philosophyrelated to human position of human: man's search for order, experience of the most concrete and logic, coherence, while the world does not specific as the basis of all common have that category. Impossibility to concepts and values. communicate with fellow human beings, Some other famous people who loneliness, fear, desire to escape into a worship the absurdity concept are Eugene fantasy world. The message conveyed by Ionesco, Jean Genet, Harold Pinter, Tom this absurd theater is about human‘s Stoppard, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, pointless search for meaning and Alejandro Jodorowsky, Fernando Arrabal, significance. Vàclave Havel, and Edward Albee. Most Another absurd works is the of them lived in France, Harold Pinter in Beckett‘s works 'Waiting for Godot' England, and Edward Albee in America. (Waiting for Godot)‘ at the beginning of Novelist Nathalie Sarraute 1970. In Indonesia, the work has been emphasizedlanguage absurdity and performed by Renda et al. Les Chaises showed that there is lack of (Chair) has also been translated by Toto communication between the events in SudartoBachtiar in the early 1960s. The human life. The authors tend to reject study of absurd theater use sociologyof absurd ideology, they only favor their own literature approach and existentialism, messages, the messages which are not those studies suggests that absurd theater messages at all. presents a fundamental turmoil of human Absurd theater in Europe and experience. Turmoil originated from America is not growing alone and isolated multiple causes, such as the impossibility from the West literary, but along with the of communication, the disappearance of development of absurd theater, emerged harmony, the loss of a link of cause and traditional naturalistic dramas with plots effect, no clear sequence of events, carefully arranged and seemed to be a resulting in incapacitation human just like revolution ofplay writings. All of this was figures painted on the absurd theater. at first influenced by the great novelist of In understanding the absurd theater, the 20th century such as Michael Prost, students need to consider several things Franz Kafka, James Joyce, and Thomas below: Mann. They are writers in the same era 1. absurd theater is a theater that and experiment with new forms and less emphasizes atmosphere and dependent on the logic of artistic and movement, the student must aware individual imagination. The most that to understand the absurd theater, influential person at that time was Sartre. they do not only need to understand word for word. 2. Sociology of literature 2. Students should understand the According to Ousby (1988), the strength of each character deeply. absurd theatermeans 'out of harmony', 3. If students have to perform as players absurd is what Albert Camusrefered to the in the absurd theater, student needs situation of modern human, a stranger in a thorough preparations in order to world without humanism. Dick Hartoko perform well on stage. The players and B Rahmanto (1986) stated that: —...... should bestudents who are mature, Movement in the world of art performance intelligent, and skillful but capable of in 50s did not only grow in Western thinking realist. world.“ Influenced by French existentialism, especially regarding the

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Prosiding PESAT (Psikologi, Ekonomi, Sastra, Arsitektur &Teknik Sipil) Vol. 6, Oktober 2015 Universitas Gunadarma - Depok - 20-21 Oktober 2015 ISSN: 1858-2559 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS Beckett, Samuel, 1952. En Attendant Based on this descriptive qualitative Godot (Paris: Les Editions de study, the conclusions are summarized as Minuit). follows: Bouty, M. 1. Sociology of literature as adrama 1991.KamusKaryasastraPerancis: learning model is a study that views TemadanKarya 149 literature in social term. The aim of SastrawanBesar. Jakarta: AMP assessment of literary work is to Publications. facilitate students for better Camus, Albert, 1955. The Myth of understandings of the literature Sysiphus and Other Essays (New elements and to receive a series of York :Vitage Books). messages from a literary work. Crafft, A. 2002.”Little a Creativity, in Students can also find out more closely Craft, A. Jeffrey, B and Libeling, M the various theories of literary studies (eds) Creativity in Education. in order to broaden their literature London,: Continuum. knowledge. Duffy, B 1988. Supporting Creativity and 2. Absurd theater is a theater that has Imagination in the Early Years, irregular structure, such as plot, Buckingham: Open University character, setting, and so on. To bring Press. out the atmosphere of the absurd Esslin, Martin. 1961. The Theatre of the theater, students are required to study Absurd. New York: Double day & the original texts or watch the Co, Inc. performances directly. Through direct Geertz, Clifford, 1973. The Interpretation introduction to the text, the absurd of Cultures (New York: Basic theater can be called a pure theater. A Books, Inc.) pure theater is dominated by a variety Hartoko, Dick dan B Rahmanto, of pantomime motion requiring 1986.Pemandu di duniasastra. interpretation and gives the impression Yogyakarta : Kanisius. as pure theater. However, when viewed Harsono, Siswo. 1997. —Absurdisme from consciousness angle, it seems that Dalam Novel dan Drama. » absurd theater is not completely pure. LembaranSastra. FakultasSastraUniversitas REFERENCES Diponegoro. No. 22 Tahun 1997. Al Zou‘bi, Mohammad 2010. « Le Magrini, James. 2012. —Existentialism, Théâtre de l‘absurde ou » Le Phenomenology, and Education“. nouveau Théâtre ». Jordan Journal Philosophy Scholarship.Paper 30. of Modern Languages Vol. 2 No. 1. Perrine, Laurence, 1987. Literature : 2010, pp. 991-102. Structure, Sound, and Sense. New Bair, Deidre, 1978. Camus: A Collection York; HBJ. of Critical Essays, (New York: Sumardjo Jakob. 1986. Prentice-Hall). IkhtisarSejarahTeater Barat. BakdiSoemanto, 2001. JagatTeater. Bandung. Angkasa Yogyakarta: Media Pressindo. Pyobs, 1987. L‘absurdité, Sorbonne: Guilimard

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