Thinking and thinking... going beyond what is written!

Hi folks, today let's discuss 2 major issues concerning art in general. The first thing is the time in which some piece was written and set in and secondly if the play is still relevant in modern age.

Everybody knows that the situation around you affects you, your perceptions and basically everything that happens in your life. Therefore it is important to remember that many (maybe majority) of art (books, plays, films etc.) were very often influenced by the situations during which they were written so that they are reflections of that times or they are reactions to those situations. Most important factors that influenced everything are for example economical, political or religious changes. Some examples of literature like this (that was trying to describe some time period in some certain place) would be for example Of Mice and Man by John Steinbeck and many many others. I believe that those people who are going to read this blog understand my point here so let's move on...

Despite the fact, that literature (art in general too) was very often reflection or reaction to some situation in the past there are still exceptions that were meant to deliver different messages (uhuhuh I love this kind of art - thanks Mr.Healy for recomending me No Exit). Well so let's have a look on No Exit... This play was written in the end of the WW II and is not connected at all with war or that times situation in the world - so we can clearly see that this play is not reflecting past situations or reacting to them.

Regarding the time period in which the piece is set - it is irrelevant as well. In that majority of art where some book is reflection or reaction, as I mentioned before, we need to know background information about that period and situation in order to understand the message completely. But not in this case (hell yeah!).

This play is not set it any time period. It is the image of the afterlife and it examines the psychological and behavioural aspects of human characters. For all these reason I would say that this play is very universal - and for wide range of audience. You do not have to know anything about some historical periods in order to understand the genuine meaning of this play. All you need to do in order to understand truly is to read/watch carefully and take time to think about the situation that is displayed in this play. This play is not much of a action story, not much happens during the play. The play is more about dialogue and thinking beyond what is written - it is all about us (people) doing silly things, moaning all the time and living empty lives full of our own mistakes...and then moaning again after you die (hehe).

In conclusion I believe that this play is really meant for everybody, because all you have to do is to think. You do not need to have some amazing knowledge in order to understand this play. All you need to do, is to think... now it depends if you can do that, but that is a different story...

Now I hope that I encouraged you even more to read this play, because you do not have to study any background information in order to get the message of this play - I like this type of literature.

All you need to do to understand No Exit is to watch/read it and THINK...

cheers

chris