Going Slightly Mad
“Mais si on n'est pas fou à 20 ans, on ne le seras jamais et c'est bien dommage.” Marc Levy
Translation: "If we are not crazy at 20, we never will be and that is rather unfortunate." Marc Levy
This quote came up when reading "Éteignez tout et la vie s'allume" last Summer. At the moment of reading, I was still 20, so it hit a nerve. I tend to take life slightly seriously at times – thus a callout was good. I finished the book when I had been in the army for two weeks, so I was barely crazy at that point. I had only done two years of prépa before that, a challenge but clearly not enough for me since I decided to serve my country right after.
The way I understand Marc Levy's quote is that we should not put such pressure on ourselves to conform to the made-up norms of society. That we should let loose and not overthink things. For this, absurdism is a great way to solve things. In my family, since a young age, I have been taught that madness is not a vice. It is the best way to stay sane in this otherwise absurd world. This can be explored through Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Master and Margarita – both staples in our household.
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, we observe Alice who explores a completely absurd society made up of talking animals and mad people. She does not question it though, she accepts the absurd and flows through the given world with only a few hiccups.
Then we have The Master and Margarita, where society can be classified as "normal". That being said, soon enough, paranormal activities start to happen in Moscow. Paranormal activities include (but are not limited to) death prophecies that turn out true, heads being torn off and reattached and not to forget that the only thing that can save a dying cat is, of course, a gulp of gasoline.
These cases are drawn from fantasy worlds but as we know from Lafontaine's fables, fantasy is the best way to disguise reality. If someone refuses to accept the absurdism of it all, then what's the point? Why take seriously matters that are completely out of our hands? Being crazy is what can and will save you from going crazy.
This Week's Suggestion:
🎶 "I'm Going Slightly Mad" by Queen:
This song suggestion seems very appropriate for the given text. Queen was truly a great band. If you have not heard this specific piece, then I suggest you listen to it right away!
TMG aka Tiny Meat Gang comprises Noel Miller and Cody Ko – two internet comedians with a background in software engineering. This is a highlight clip from their weekly podcast. The podcast is very much laid back, as it should be. Check it out for quick laughs!
Till next time!
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