Laur Flom

Should I be Joking at a Time Like This?

The purpose of this paper is to defend and contextualize the meaningless and absurd nature of my thesis project, “Everyday Essentials.” My project - a box meant to house and protect everyday objects - is presented under the false pretence that it can add convenience to one’s life, while in practice, it acts as a hindrance. “Everyday Essentials” explores our fascination with finding meaning in everything and searches for the absurdist joy that can come with a clear lack of meaning. Through engagement with Camus’, “The Myth of Sisyphus,” along with the work of absurdist comedians Bo Burnham, Trixie Mattel, and Katya Zamolodchikova, I uncover the joy and relief that come with acceptance under absurdist ideologies.