On the Aesthetics of Absurdist Judaism
Source unknown; assumed to be lecture notes from lecturer or student
The cosmological and illusory assumptions of Absurdist Judaism
Self
Free will
Space-time
Causation
God
Supernatural realms
The moral assumptions of Absurdist Judaism
Sentient life suffers
We respond to our perfect knowledge of mortality and avoid our own suffering
By inflicting ourselves on others – while indifferent to their suffering
We repress or rationalise this knowledge – to feel better about ourselves
We ought to unwind these responses
We ought to avoid the next Holocaust
Ritual design for mythic hygiene integrates cosmology and morality into experimental forms
Forms in Absurd Judaism
The Master of Scenarios – they portray all roles
The Golden Calf Elevator & Café as ritual design environment
A ritual design facilitation guide – an annotated “libretto” for a mixed media performance
This is performed within one’s virtual afterlife
Content in Absurd Judaism
Personal, family and received cultural myth
Example: Mother’s Prototype: a son’s myth of his deceased mother’s myth
The myth of mother and then son
As a child, the Mother is confronted with visions of the Holocaust
As a young adult, she is confronted with duty and expectations of her culture
As a young wife and mother, she is confronted with radical agnosticism
Her examination (“After five thousand years”) summarises her assessment
Alienation, dehumanisation, violent patriarchy
She re-envisions her ex-husband as archetypal
She becomes a lawyer for people with no money
When she dies, her son continues her mission
He develops Absurdist Judaism
Diagnosis: Amythic death anxiety
Treatment plan: Ritual design for mythic hygiene
For new myth that might transcend human nature
