Dissertation
Austramerica: The absurdism of clashing cultures
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Creative Arts, University of the Sunshine Coast
2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00290
Abstract
Absurdism is a term with no enduring place in the general consciousness of the population like, say, Surrealism holds. However, both a philosophical and literary aspect to Absurdism exist that are worth considering in the academic arena. Yet, in many quarters there is a lack of recognition of Absurdism as either, or both, a philosophical classification and as a literary genre. Indeed, whether there exists a so-named literary genre is still a contentious issue. To achieve clarification, this doctoral project aims to originate a creative artefact in the form of a novel with an accompanying exegesis that clearly outlines the nature of Absurdism in both forms, without precisely defining Absurdism in literature so as not to hamper its growth as a genre. The artefact aims to adhere to the established nature of an Absurdist novel, stated as: the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the individual's inability to find any. The innovation in this project is the metaphorical use of societal change brought about by an inculcating foreign culture and associated paradoxes. The research question at the foundation of the project is: How does a philosophical and literary understanding of Absurdism enable a creative exploration of the phenomenon of the Coca-Colanisation of Australia? The exegesis explains how a philosophical and literary understanding is arrived at and outlines how these features may apply in a particular Absurdist novel. The adult fiction novel (creative artefact) takes the features outlined in the exegesis that the study shows distinguish an Absurdist novel from other genres and uses them in a narrative that follows the themes and characteristics that such a genre might contain.
Details
- Title
- Austramerica: The absurdism of clashing cultures
- Authors
- Michael Shapter
- Contributors
- Paul A Williams (Supervisor)
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Creative Arts
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00290
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450623702621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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