In: Psychology
Provide one example of existentialist thinking from culture—film, music, literature, art, etc.—and explain how it is an example of the view.
Existentialist thinking can be defined as the thinking based on the existentialism school of philosophy which emphasizes freedom, choice and individual thinking. Existentialist thinking states that people make their own meaning and purpose in a seemingly irrational universe.
There are many movies, music, literature and art based on existentialist thinking or philosophy. One of the recent examples of it is the novel and film 'life of pi'. The movie is based on he story of the protagonist who after severe disaster at sea, survives and is led on a journey of discovery, survival and adventure.
In the story, the protagonist loses all his family members in the disaster and also his family business. His life suddenly becomes Meaningless and irrational. But he decides to live and give meaning and purpose to his own life as seen in both the movie and novel later. Thus the central theme of existentialism is depicted beautifully in the movie and thus is a perfect example of existentialism.