{"product_id":"9781418427542","title":"Absurdist Angles on History: Three Plays","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe plays in \u003cu\u003eAbsurdist Angles on History: Three Plays\u003c\/u\u003e look at absurdities of modern history from three different angles. \u003cu\u003eHow World War I Happened\u003c\/u\u003e applies absurdist dramatic treatment to the outbreak of the war, an episode largely absurd to start with. The wishful thinking and frivolous motivations of the main actors are more effectively highlighted by absurdist exaggeration than by customary historical analysis. \u003cu\u003eHow Karl Got Over His Bad Dream\u003c\/u\u003e applies an absurdist twist to the origins of Marx’ and Freud’s key theories – an angle offering insights into the theories themselves at the same time as extracting maximum humor from farcical interpretations. \u003cu\u003eHow it All Might Have Ended\u003c\/u\u003e, which has been professionally produced, posits a post – nuclear – war world with few survivors – a situation acknowledged during the cold war to be an actual possibility. The dramatic treatment in this case is not absurdist, since the human race placing itself at such risk is a fact absurd enough not to need enhancement. Although this play, in common with \u003cu\u003eHow World War I Happened\u003c\/u\u003e, is for the most part comedic, both conclude in despair at Western civilization’s self – inflicted damage from chronic shortsightedness and perilous priorities.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AuthorHouse","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47124441268464,"sku":"9781418427542","price":5.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781418427542_p0.jpg?v=1763729289","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781418427542","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}