“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
One of the reasons I enjoy the "Fargo" series is its blend of "realism" and "absurdity." From the Coen Brothers' Fargo film to the current TV series, each instalment begins with the well-known line: "This is a true story."
But what is truth, really?
Each person has a unique lens through which they perceive and articulate the world. A single event may wear varied faces in different minds. Just as in the movie Rashomon, where various characters share their versions of events, whose viewpoint can we lean on? And which of these interpretations represents the true narrative?
In our everyday experiences, whether from real-life events, stories, or a blend of both, everything is shaped by how we see and understand things. When we feel we've grasped life's rules or navigated its challenges, the random and unpredictable nature of reality steps in to teach us some lessons.
Much like the characters in "Fargo," who might assume control over their destinies, the revelation dawns that fate often follows unpredictable twists.
Each season of the "Fargo" TV series introduces new actors and storylines, yet there are subtle connections linking them. Season 4 saw the appearance of independent rock singer-songwriter Andrew Bird, portraying a character uniquely crafted for him by the director. This deliberate choice helped link various elements and elevate the overall coherence of the narrative, emphasizing the underlying theme of absurdity.
In 2019, Andrew released an album titled "My Finest Work Yet," featuring a song called "Sisyphus." In Season 2 of "Fargo," a female shop clerk is seen reading Albert Camus's philosophical essay "The Myth of Sisyphus." In Season 3, Ewan McGregor's character, playing dual roles as brothers, fights over a stamp featuring the image of Sisyphus pushing a boulder.
Σίσυφος, Sisyphus, 西西弗斯.
Sisyphus, a significant character in Greek mythology, faced divine consequences for betraying Zeus and outsmarting death. His eternal punishment involves ceaselessly pushing a colossal boulder to the summit of a mountain, only to witness it roll back down, compelling him to commence the arduous task anew.
In his philosophical essay, Camus compared Sisyphus's endless toil to the existential challenges faced by humanity. He viewed Sisyphus's futile and unending struggle as a symbolic representation of humanity's tireless search for meaning and truth in a world that, like Sisyphus's ordeal, frequently seems void of purpose and harsh in its realities.
The absurdity arises from the contradiction between people's yearning for meaning in this world and the constant disappointments it brings. Under such circumstances, people realise the world is devoid of meaning. However, most individuals are unwilling to accept this reality, turning to hedonism or religious beliefs, and engaging in self-deception or numbness.
Camus questioned in his essay whether the assertion that life lacks meaning inevitably leads to the contemplation of suicide. If life is perceived as devoid of meaning, does this render it unworthy of existence? Camus contends that faced with such a scenario, we are left with two choices: a leap of faith or suicide. However, he proposes a third alternative — the ability to embrace and exist within a world devoid of inherent meaning or purpose.
Camus argued that, as Sisyphus repeatedly descends the mountain to push the boulder again, he is not in despair but in a struggle against fate, a tragic hero of absurdity. When you recognise the inevitability of the absurd in life, which makes life painful and despairing, the only option is to embrace the absurd as a starting point, accept it, and then resist.
Like Sisyphus, each time he pushes the boulder to the summit, he doesn't see it as a punishment but finds joy in labour, exhausting his potential to find meaning in his ceaseless task. As Camus summarised, "The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."
p.s. I'm getting a new tattoo this week inspired by The Myth of Sisyphus, stay tuned for the grand reveal on my X and IG haha!
I hope that you love the design and that it makes you happy. Maybe you can write story about it too ? It is so intriguing ....
have an awesome day and thanks for the post
ps I did well in my 普通话测试 recently and was encouraged by my teacher to do more study next year ; the auspicious year of the dragon :)
This is great! Fargo is one of my favourite series (especially season 2). Looking forward to S5.