As a writer, filmmaker, and performer, I’ve always been drawn to absurdity. It’s the kind of absurdity that starts with a caveman attempting to spark a fire and somehow ends with modern humans arguing on Twitter about the correct way to pronounce “quinoa.” Absurdity, in all its chaotic, illogical, and outright bizarre glory, is the glitter of the creative world—messy, unpredictable, and unexpectedly stunning. It’s not just about making people laugh, though. Absurdity wields a unique power: it can unravel society’s intricacies, tear apart political facades, and force us to examine the human condition—all while leaving us in a state of delightful confusion.  

In fact, absurdity does something most politicians can’t: it makes us question everything we think we know. It’s like holding up a funhouse mirror to the world, reflecting its contradictions and asking us to consider whether any of it actually makes sense—or if it even matters.  

Absurdity as a Vehicle for Social Commentary  

Absurdity in storytelling—whether in film, literature, or comedy—is like a high-speed chase through inconvenient truths. At first glance, it can seem like a flaming dumpster of chaos: a government office running on incompetence, or a character who insists they can communicate with squirrels. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find a razor-sharp critique buried within the chaos.  

Absurdity is a sneaky ninja of social commentary, capable of exposing societal flaws in ways that straightforward storytelling can’t. Take The Office, for example. On the surface, it’s a sitcom on steroids, with characters like Michael Scott behaving as if they’re auditioning for the world’s worst improv troupe. Yet beneath the cringe-worthy humor lies a scathing critique of corporate culture. The show lays bare the absurdity of faceless bureaucracy, dysfunctional office dynamics, and the utter lack of accountability that defines so many workplaces. It’s a love letter to dysfunction, reflecting the nonsense many of us navigate daily.  

Absurdity uses exaggeration as a sleight of hand, allowing audiences to laugh at the ridiculousness of life while digesting deeper truths. Once a story veers into the absurd, it creates a safe space to tackle weighty issues—power dynamics, class inequality, or identity crises—without overwhelming its audience. It’s like a Trojan horse for social commentary: we let it in for laughs, only to find ourselves questioning everything long after the final punchline.  

The Relatability of Absurdity  

Absurdity resonates with us because it mirrors the chaos of our own lives. We live in a world where socks disappear in dryers, where self-checkout machines demand emotional labor, and where pineapple on pizza remains a divisive issue. Absurdity, for all its ridiculousness, feels oddly familiar. It speaks to the universal human experience of trying—and often failing—to make sense of a world that behaves like a toddler with a crayon.  

Audiences respond to absurdity because it offers a cathartic release. It allows us to laugh at the inexplicable—whether it’s a friend eating pizza with a fork and knife or the existential crisis brought on by an automated customer service line. The more nonsensical the story, the more it feels like a shared inside joke about the absurdities we all endure.  

I’ve seen this magic firsthand. Whether through a short film, a comedic monologue, or an essay about the emotional toll of assembling IKEA furniture, absurdity has a way of bringing people together. It reminds us that we’re all characters in the same bizarre sitcom, improvising our way through the script.  

Absurdity as a Tool for Insight  

Absurdity isn’t just for laughs. It’s a powerful tool for exploring life’s contradictions. It allows us to confront uncomfortable truths without feeling attacked. After all, why face your problems head-on when you can throw a pie in their face instead?  

In my own work, I use absurdity to examine everything from identity (Why is there a spoon in my pocket?) to the Kafkaesque nightmare of modern bureaucracy. Absurdity serves as a magnifying glass, revealing the messiness of life in a way that feels both humorous and profound.  

For instance, a story about a man in a cape at the DMV isn’t just funny; it’s a commentary on how we cope with monotony and try to reclaim individuality in a system that reduces us to numbers. These moments of absurdity often lead to the most profound insights: maybe we’re all just trying to survive until 5 PM without losing our sense of self.  

The Beauty of Absurdity  

At its core, absurdity is an art form that helps us process the chaos of existence. It’s the glittery glue that holds together our messy, unpredictable reality. Through humor and exaggeration, it allows us to explore big ideas without losing our minds.  

So whether it’s a caveman lighting a fire, Michael Scott hosting a cringe-worthy meeting, or a whimsical debate about pizza toppings, absurdity reminds us that life’s most ridiculous moments often carry the most profound truths. In a world that rarely makes sense, absurdity is our compass—pointing us toward laughter, connection, and, occasionally, enlightenment.