I'm not on vacation

While I am here in London I will be enrolled in two classes: 

1- Shakespeare 

2- Contemporary Drama. 

These are some of my notes - I promise I will not post my notes every week :-) 

Contemporary Drama is theatre that has been written in the last 20yrs and is running in its first 2yrs in London. In Shakespeare’s days – the majority of people were believers, to not understand this is to misunderstand Shakespeare, this idea continued into the 19^th Century.

What created the changes?

-Enlightenment: took out mystical element of the supernatural

-Industrial Revolution: getting people working together in factories

- Marxism: 

  leavers when pulled oppress people

  religion used as a power point to keep people in their place

- Secularization:

   Darwin: Evolution vs. God

   Anthropologists: looking at a cultural/religion from its eyes

   Europe in the West become the more dominant in the world

-World War I

  most devastating war for Europe

  Battle of Passion Dell, 3000 dead in a week

 This war killed of a generation of young men

 The question: “where is God?”

 Around this time things change in Europe

Contemporary Drama based on the following Ideas

-Trend is towards atheism in the arts

- Absurd Hero: out of joint

-Albert Camus (wrote many plays) – Sisyphus Essay is one of them

·      We are a longing group of people for things that do not exist: eternity…

·      Sisyphus owns his fate in his consciousness – defies the gods

·      Determines that all is well w/o a Master

·      Fooling yourself

“The Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay by Albert Camus. It comprises about 120 pages and was published originally in 1942 in French as Le Mythe de Sisyphe; the English translation by Justin O'Brien followed in 1955. In the essay, Camus introduces his philosophy of the absurd: man's futile search for meaning, unity and clarity in the face of an unintelligible world devoid of God and eternal truths or values. Does the realization of the absurd require suicide? Camus answers: "No. It requires revolt." He then outlines several approaches to the absurd life. The final chapter compares the absurdity of man's life with the situation of Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again. The essay concludes, "The struggle itself...is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy." -Wikipedia

Question the professor asked us to ask ourselves: As a religious person what do you think about in your moment of consciousness?

My answer, to myself: I do not see the comparison of my religion to that of the Gods of Sisyphus. God does not condemn me to the cruel punishment that Sisyphus had been eternally condemned to, God does not play with emotions and toy with my life as the Gods of Sisyphus do. I feel that I am regularly in a moment of consciousness. I am alert as to who I am, why I live and where I want to go. I am in control of my life because I have free agency to choose and act as I wish. I worship God and practice religion because I choose to, because in my clearest moment of consciousness it is spirituality that illuminates that very moment.

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Its tough being a Theatre Major when people around you throw in your face their ideas, claim to be open minded and enlightened but then bash everything you believe in. My professors have been very respectful and I find that the ignorance comes mainly from a handful of students who have made comments regarding the LDS religion despite their pleas for tolerance and acceptance of their beliefs.

The majority of the people really do seem to be open-minded and respectful. 

I knew when I decided to Study Theatre at the University Of Utah, or anywhere else outside Utah, this would be the case and I’m ready for the waive of un-acceptance of my beliefs from those who ask me for that same acceptance of their beliefs.

The classes have been interesting so far and honestly I’ve enjoyed my first week here in London. I look forward to seeing all the sights, attending the plays and relaxing. The best part of course is that I don’t have to worry about answering my cell phone, a deadline, or work! It’s relaxing. I do miss my family, my friends and the mountains. London is beautiful and it has its ugly parts as well but I think when the time comes I’ll definitely be ready to go home.