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"تئاتر پوچی ارز جدیدی پیدا می‌کرد زیرا جنبش ضد ریاضت در برابر پس‌زمینه شکست اقتصادی جهانی آغاز شد."

Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie Author
Translations
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Quote meaning
The essence of this quote is pretty straightforward: it’s about how the Theatre of the Absurd became increasingly popular as people started to push back against economic struggles and austerity measures. The economic backdrop—full of fractures and uncertainties—made this kind of theatre more relevant and resonant with audiences.

This idea springs from a specific historical context. The Theatre of the Absurd originated in the 1950s and 60s, in the post-World War II era, when writers like Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco created works that reflected the existential dread and perceived meaninglessness of life. Fast forward to the more recent economic crises—the quote refers to the period after the 2008 financial meltdown when economies worldwide were shaking, and austerity measures were being imposed. People were frustrated and anxious, and this type of theatre, which emphasizes the absurdity and randomness of human existence, felt particularly fitting.

Let’s look at a real-life example. During the 2010s, in Greece, the economy was in tatters. Unemployment was sky-high, and austerity measures were hitting hard. Greek theatres started to stage plays by absurdist playwrights, old and new. One notable production was Beckett’s "Waiting for Godot." The play’s themes of waiting, uncertainty, and the seemingly endless postponement of action struck a chord with audiences feeling stuck in a cycle of economic despair and political inaction. The characters' endless waiting for something—or someone—that never arrives mirrored the populace’s own endless waiting for economic recovery.

How can you apply this nugget of wisdom in your own life? Think about the context whenever you're facing a tough situation. Instead of getting bogged down by the seriousness of it all, sometimes it helps to step back and see the absurdity in it. It’s a liberating thought. Laugh at the craziness. Use humor to cope. It’s about acknowledging that while you can't control everything, you can control how you respond to life's randomness.

Imagine this: You’re at a small, intimate theatre. The lights dim, and the play begins. It’s a modern-day absurdist piece inspired by today's economic realities. The characters are struggling with pointless jobs, endless bureaucracy, and surreal situations. At first, it seems utterly bizarre, almost ridiculous. But as the play progresses, you start to see reflections of your own life—a futile job search, waiting endlessly for a call back, navigating confusing systems. You laugh, but you also see the deeper truths. The absurdity resonates because it mirrors the absurdity you experience. And that realization? It makes the struggle a little bit easier to bear.

So there you go. When things get tough, remember the Theatre of the Absurd. Let it remind you that there’s humor and humanity even in the most nonsensical situations. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to keep going.
Related tags
Economic crisis Political activism Social movements Socio-political commentary
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